Prevalence of fall injuries and risk factors for fall among hospitalized children in a specialized childrens hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

BACKGROUNDFall injuries among children during hospital stay is a major patient safety issue. Inpatient pediatric falls can lead to numerous negative consequences. In contrast to adults, there is a paucity of information on the prevalence and risk factors associated with children’s falls during hospitalization.OBJECTIVESIdentify the prevalence of fall injuries among hospitalized children and describe the demographic and environmental factors that could predict a higher risk of severe outcomes of fall.DESIGNDescriptive, cross-sectional prevalence study.SETTINGSpecialized children’s hospital.PATIENTS AND METHODSData was obtained through the electronic Safety Reporting System (SRS). All reported fall events during hospitalization in children ≤14 years of age for the period from 1 April 2015 to 30 April 2016 were included. Fall events that occurred in the day care unit and the outpatient clinic were excluded.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURESPrevalence and possible risk factors for fall events.SAMPLE SIZE48.RESULTSThe prevalence of falls among the 4860 admitted children was 9.9 (95% CI=7.5, 13.1) per 1000 patients (48/4860). A majority of the falls were among boys (n=26, 54%), in the age group from 1–5 years old (n=22, 46%), in children at high risk of falling (n=35, 73%), with normal mobility status (n=21, 44%), and with no history of previous falls (n=33, 69%). Severe injuries accounted for 25% of falls (n=12). However, falls among the moderate risk category (n=9, 69%) were more often severe than falls among the high risk category of children (n=12, 34%) (P=.03).CONCLUSIONRisk factor identification is required to prevent falls and their severe outcomes.LIMITATIONSUnderreporting and single-centered study.