Authors: (including presenting author): :
Wong KM(1), Dr Ling SO(1), Ng PK(1), Wu TC(1), Cheung EYY(2), Chan BTW(2), Ling PM(1), Lai LT(1), Wong EYW(2), Tsui AYY(2), Chau RMW(2)
Affiliation: :
(1) Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kowloon Hospital (2) Physiotherapy Department, Kowloon Hospital
Introduction: :
Hospital fall prevention relies on multi-disciplinary management and concerted team effort. SPACES targeted to promote patient safety by enhancing communication and staff engagement through a comprehensive yet straightforward signage system designed by Department of Respiratory Medicine and Physiotherapy Department of Kowloon Hospital. It was piloted in an extended care ward in September 2020, and rolled out to other three extended care wards in December2020.
Objectives: :
This pilot aimed to evaluate SPACES’s effect on safety metrics, team communication & collaboration, and staff buy-in.
Methodology: :
The graphic signage included two key components: level of assistance and walking aids required. In combination, it delivered accurate and concurrent contextual up-to-date information on the patient’s mobility function/status. Signage was posted on the easily seen bedside once physiotherapist(PT) & nurse assessed the patient’s mobility function. Timeliness and accuracy was fueled by daily patient encounter by nurse & PT and weekly structured review. The graphic communication means was designed to appeal to the visual learning & memory of human learning, thus, easier & wider scope of staff engagement.
Result & Outcome: :
After 4-month implementation, Zero fall was recorded in the wards in 2020 versus 4 episodes in the control time cohort in 2019. Patient’s mobility function recognition was examined in 77 staff. The recognition rate was boosted from 79%(Nurse) and 36%(PCAs) to 100%. Feedback from users(n=46), nurses and PT(n=41) were collected by structured questionnaires. All items received median and mode score of 5(full score). All users agreed that SPACES was quick, convenient and strengthened the staff confidence & engagement in providing fall preventive work. Nurses and PT agreed that SPACES facilitated efficient communication among professionals and cultivated fall prevention initiatives, equipping and engaging ward staff in early & sustaining fall preventive works with handy effort. The interlink between precise information, effective communication, team collaboration is crucial in in-patient fall prevention. Our preliminary result showed that SPACES achieved this goal and ameliorated staff awareness and engagement in providing the required assistances to patients in therapeutic and functional activities. Extension of SPACES in different settings to investigate its effect on fall prevention is recommended.
