Deakin University
Browse

File(s) under permanent embargo

In-hospital falls and fall-related injuries: a protocol for a cost of fall study

journal contribution
posted on 2013-01-01, 00:00 authored by R Morello, A Barker, T Haines, Silva ZavarsekSilva Zavarsek, Jennifer WattsJennifer Watts, K Hill, C Brand, C Sherrington, R Wolfe, M Bohensky, J Stoelwinder
Background:
In-hospital falls are common and pose significant economic burden on the healthcare system. To date, few studies have quantified the additional cost of hospitalisation associated with an in-hospital fall or fall-related injury. The aim of this study is to determine  the additional length of stay and hospitalisation costs associated with in-hospital falls and fall-related injuries, from the acute hospital perspective.

Methods and design
A multisite prospective study will be conducted as part of a larger falls-prevention clinical trial—the 6-PACK project. This study will involve 12 acute medical and surgical wards from six hospitals across Australia. Patient and admission characteristics, outcome and hospitalisation cost data will be prospectively collected on approximately 15 000 patients during the 15-month study period. A review of all inhospital fall events will be conducted using a multimodal method (medical record review and daily verbal report from the nurse unit manager, triangulated with falls recorded in the hospital incident reporting and administrative database), to ensure complete case ascertainment. Hospital clinical costing data will be used to calculate patient-level hospitalisation costs incurred by a patient during their inpatient stay. Additional hospital and hospital resource utilisation costs attributable to inhospital falls and fall-related injuries will be calculated using linear regression modelling, adjusting for a prioridefined potential confounding factors.

Discussion:
This protocol provides the detailed statement of the planned analysis. The results from this study will be used to support healthcare planning, policy making and allocation of funding relating to falls prevention within acute hospitals.

History

Journal

Injury prevention

Volume

19

Pagination

1-6

Location

London, England

ISSN

1353-8047

eISSN

1475-5785

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal, C Journal article

Copyright notice

2013, BMJ Group

Issue

5

Publisher

BMJ Group