Abstract: Falls in the perinatal setting have received minimal attention and have not been well documented. Women are at risk for falling following vaginal or cesarean birth, especially during initial attempts at ambulation. Recently, a women's hospital that averages over 500 births per month recorded a postpartum fall rate that exceeded the national mean for adult surgical patient falls. A fall prevention team (FPT) of five nurses was formed with a goal to decrease the incidence of postpartum patient falls to zero within the following 7 months. A patient-centered fall prevention strategy was developed. The results of this project have laid the foundation for additional research of a program that will consider not only prevention of falls in a healthy population but also the development of a risk assessment tool specific to women in the immediate postpartum period.

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Background

The postpartum patient is generally an independent healthy woman of childbearing age; their hospitalization experience is focused on the birth of a new infant. Frank, Lane, and Hokanson (2009) recognized the disconnect between the traditional fall risk assessment tools and the postpartum patients. Using the Morse Falls Scale and a Modified Alderete Score, Frank et al. developed and implemented the Post Epidural Fall Risk Assessment Score (PEFRAS). The PEFRAS was designed specifically for postepidural, postpartum patients. The validity and reliability of PEFRAS have not yet been established, but this is the first published attempt to address this specialized population.

Recently, a women's hospital that averages over 500 births per month recorded a postpartum fall rate that exceeded the national mean for adult surgical patient falls. The national average for adult surgical patient falls per 1,000 patient days during the 12-month time period was 2.79. This mean was used for comparison since there was no national mean for postpartum falls.

Although actual circumstances varied, the Nursing Practice Council for the postpartum unit was concerned that the unsatisfactory fall rate could be due to a lack of patient education and staff awareness. A preliminary review of post-fall reports revealed that some women were getting up to the bathroom without calling for staff assistance. Following the fall, women would report to their nurse that they did not fully understand the effects and duration of epidural analgesia, and did not realize their legs were "too weak" for walking. Although no injuries were sustained from the falls during the 12-month period, a need to decrease the fall rate was identified in order to prevent potential injury and costs.

Two weeks prior to implementation all postpartum nursing staff (licensed and nonlicensed) were educated about the new fall prevention plan. Multiple methods of training were conducted including e-mail, staff meeting programs, and mandatory read and sign packets. Packets included the letter and information on the rationale for the program and details about the process. All postpartum staff agreed to participate. Nursing personnel in the newborn nursery and labor and delivery units were informed of the fall prevention strategy for additional reinforcement.

Compliance with implementing the fall prevention strategy was monitored through leadership rounding. Postpartum nurses and patient care technicians were reminded to answer calls for bathroom assistance promptly and to frequently remind patients to "Call for a Helping Hand." The importance of hourly rounding and inclusion of the woman in discussing her fall risk during bedside shift report was also emphasized. The FPT continued to meet for review of fall reports and intervention evaluation. To further increase postpartum unit staff awareness and compliance, monthly fall statistics were posted as well as a sign indicating the number of days since the last patient fall. The fall prevention program and progress on meeting the goal of zero falls was discussed at monthly staff meetings. Since implementation of the postpartum fall prevention program, the women's hospital has decreased their fall rate by 50% and maintained a postpartum fall rate below the 50th percentile for the national mean of adult surgical patient falls per 1,000 patient days.

Clinical Implications

By combining staff awareness of fall risk with a patient-centered approach, caregivers and patients became engaged together in the fall prevention process. Although an improvement was demonstrated in the postpartum fall rate, continuous review, evaluation, and reinforcement is essential for the safe care of obstetrical patients and to ensure compliance with the NPSG of reducing risk of patient harm from falls.

Opportunities abound for research as a result of this initial project. Investigation to establish common criteria associated with those patients that did experience a fall can facilitate the development of a fall risk assessment tool that would be specific to the postpartum population. Although a reduction in fall rate occurred, further data could be collected to look at how various types of anesthesia, amount of blood loss, or other birthing factors relate to the incidence of falls. Additionally, the influence of patient participation or engagement in education on the fall risk prevention could lead to its inclusion in evidence-based practice guidelines.

Until now, the focus of fall prevention strategies has been in the adult medical hospitalized or frail elderly population. There are other populations however that have gone unrecognized but yet are at a risk for fall and injury. TJC has called for the development of programs to reduce the number of falls and assess for fall risk in all populations. The experience at this facility has laid the foundation for additional research of a program that will consider not only prevention of falls in a healthy population but also the development of a risk assessment tool that is specific to women in the immediate postpartum period.

Suggested Clinical Implications

* Traditional Fall Risk Scales do not address the unique characteristics of the postpartum period.

* Postpartum patients have short-term increased fall risks.

* Patient-centered education immediately following birth that includes active involvement and visual cues about risk for falling makes a difference.

* Further research is needed to define fall risk factors in the postpartum population.

References

Frank, B. J., Lane, C., & Hokanson, H. (2009). Designing a postepidural fall risk assessment score for the obstetric patient. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 24, 50-54. doi:10.1097/01.NCQ.0000342937.99036.7b

Key terms: Accidental falls; Fall prevention; Fall risk assessment; Patient safety; Postpartum period; Postpartum safety.