Accidental Falls
Conditions
Keywords
Floors and Floorcoverings, Health Services for the Aged, Fractures, bone, Delirium, Dementia, Amnestic, Cognitive Disorders, Frail Elderly, Aged, 80 and over
Brief summary
In hospitals, older people can fall and hurt themselves. The investigators want to see if a new type of flooring can help stop people hurting themselves as badly, if they accidentally fall.
Detailed description
We will carry out the study in eight elderly care wards across England. We will first study the wards for up to 6 months. Then, half of the wards will have the new floor laid. Wards will be chosen to receive the new floor, or remain with a standard floor, by chance. The new floor has 'shock-absorbent' properties. We will study all the wards for another 12 months. This will allow us to compare the new flooring with the normal flooring.
Interventions
OTHERNew flooring
8.3mm thick vinyl floor covering with foam backing, manufactured by Tarkett and installed by Tyndale Flooring Ltd.
Sponsors
The Dunhill Medical Trust
National Osteoporosis Society
University of Sheffield
Health & Safety Laboratory
National Patient Safety Agency
Department of Health, United Kingdom
Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust
University of Bath
University of Portsmouth
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* all patients admitted to the study area on a participating elderly care ward
Exclusion criteria
* none.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| fall-related injury | Study duration = 18 months. Outcome measured for each patient for duration of stay in ward (approx. 30 days). |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Unexpected adverse events | Study duration = 18 months. Outcome measured for each patient for duration of stay in ward (approx. 30 days). |
| Slip resistance of flooring | Measured at 4 time-points over 1.5 years (1 month; 6 months; 12 months; 18 months) |
| Shock-absorbency of flooring | Measured at 4 time-points over 1.5 years (1 month; 6 months; 12 months; 18 months) |
| Number of falls | Study duration = 18 months. Outcome measured for each patient for duration of stay in ward (approx. 30 days). |
| Quality of life (for cost-effectiveness analysis) | Each patient followed-up 3 months post-discharge |
| Number of hospital re-admissions (for cost-effectiveness analysis) | Each patient followed-up 3 months post-discharge |
| User views (patients and staff) | Collected during 1 year follow-up of intervention sites (months 6 to 18) |
| Place of residence (for cost-effectiveness analysis) | Each patient followed-up 3 months post-discharge |
Countries
United Kingdom
Outcome results
None listed