Risk Factors Related to Caregivers in Hospitalized Children's Falls

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors for falls in hospitalized children in relation to their caregivers. Methods: This was a case control study to evaluate the risk factors for falls in hospitalized children in relation to their caregivers. The children included in our study were at the hospital between June 2014 and June 2015. Demographic data of patients, caregivers, some habits; education level; and number of siblings were recorded.

Results: The data of 117 patients were evaluated, and there were 39 patients with a fall event and 78 patients who did not experience a fall. The mean age for the fall group and the non-fall group were 14.71 +/- 9.36 and 15.62 +/- 10.65 months, respectively. The mean age for the caregivers of the fall group and the non-fall group were 29.33 +/- 5.89 and 29.53 +/- 5.56 years, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in fall risk related to the caregivers' education level (p < 0.01) and caregivers' habit of smoking (p < 0.01). The analysis of risk factors related to caregivers for pediatric inpatient falls, by multivariate logistic regression, showed that low educational level of caregivers (OR = 0.361; CI = 0.196-0.665; p < 0.01), caregivers' smoking (OR = 4.863; CI = 1.058-22.358; p < 0.05) and increased length of stay for the children (OR = 1.994; CI = 1.475-2.696; p < 0.01) carried a higher risk for pediatric inpatient falls.

Conclusions and Practice Implications: The data obtained in our study have shown that caregivers play a key role in fall events in hospitalized children. Nurses and other health workers should consider children's caregivers educational level and habits for prevention of hospitalized children falls.