Effects of an intervention to increase bed alarm use to prevent falls in hospitalized patients: a cluster randomized trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Bed alarm systems intended to prevent hospital falls have not been formally evaluated.

Objective

To investigate whether an intervention aimed at increasing bed alarm use decreases hospital falls and related events.

Design

Pair-matched, cluster randomized trial over 18 months. Nursing units were allocated by computer-generated randomization on the basis of baseline fall rates. Patients and outcome assessors were blinded to unit assignment; outcome assessors may have become unblinded. (ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT00183053)

Setting

16 nursing units in an urban community hospital.

Patients

27 672 inpatients in general medical, surgical, and specialty units.

Intervention

Education, training, and technical support to promote us

SUBMITTER: Shorr RI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3549269 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature