Research Paper
American Journal of Nursing Science (AJNS) was chosen as a periodical for the submission of the present research. American Journal of Nursing Science is a peer-reviewed journal that publishes original qualitative and empirical studies, reviews, case studies, and brief reports that are devoted to spheres of nursing practice and primary health care (American Journal of Nursing Science, 2016). The research project “Development of an Elderly Fall Prevention Program” will be a rightful contribution to such subject areas as quality nursing, nursing ethics and management, and health care.
American Journal of Nursing Science establishes strict rules for manuscript submission that describe how the title, list of authors, abstract, introduction, main body, results, conclusions, and references should be organized and edited. The guidelines for writing an abstract of the article for submission stress that it should not exceed 400 words and that the use of quotations is restricted. All guidelines for the manuscript preparation as well as the manuscript checklist can be downloaded from the Internet site of the American Journal of Nursing Science (Guide for authors, 2016).
Abstract
Title of Project
The title of the present research is “Development of an Elderly Fall Prevention Program”.
Problem Statement
The reduction of the risk of elderly patient harm resulting from falls was always one of the primary objectives of nursing practice. The falls of elderly patients may be caused by low body weight, medical comorbidities, musculoskeletal system disorders, cognitive disorders, gait and balance disorders, sensory impairments, use of diuretics, antidepressants, benzodiazepines, sedative-hypnotics, antihypertensive, antiseizure, and antiarrhythmic drugs.
Purpose of the Project
The purpose of the present project is to find out what nursing interventions will be helpful in the reduction of fall rates among elderly patients and to develop an effective elderly fall prevention program.
Research Question
What nursing interventions will be helpful in the reduction of fall rates among elderly patients?
Hypothesis
The combination of patient fall risk assessment, patient education, re-evaluation of drug therapy, and physical exercises will reduce the fall incidence in elderly patients.
Methodology
The research will combine qualitative and quantitative techniques to receive the fullest understanding of the problem. The study will include a review of related literature, interviews with nursing staff and patients in assisted-living facilities, an experiment based on questionnaires, and a statistical analysis of the results.
Steps of Research Implementation
Purposive sampling will choose 50 participants in an assisted-living facility and a falls assessment questionnaire will be used for patient fall risk evaluation. The participants will be divided into two groups; the control group will receive patient education, medical treatment with low amounts of benzodiazepines and antihypertensives, and will participate in Tai Ji Quan physical training program. Statistical analysis will be used for results evaluation.
Results
The research proved the working hypothesis: the combination of patient fall risk assessment, patient education, re-evaluation of drug therapy, and physical exercises had reduced the fall incidence in elderly patients by 70%.
Conclusion
The fall incidence in elderly patients may be decreased significantly with the help of thorough fall risk evaluation, changes in medical treatment, the introduction of physical activities, and instruction of patients. The developed program of elderly fall prevention proved to be effective.
Relevance to Nursing Practice
The developed elderly fall prevention program may be successfully practiced in hospitals, assisted-living facilities, and even by live-in nurses to reduce the number of falls in elderly patients.
References
American Journal of Nursing Science. (2016). Web.
Guide for authors. (2016). Web.