Introduction: The Concept of the Multisystemic Fall Prevention Model
Despite being a seemingly basic problem that does not need to be spelled out compared to other topical issues, such as obesity or diabetes, falls still remain the cause of a range of injuries, especially among the elderly population (Shever, Titler, Mackin & Kueny, 2011). Leading to possible injuries and even traumas, falls pose an especially significant threat to hospital inpatients, which calls for the development of a specific intervention model. Even though the Multisystemic Fall Prevention Model, which has recently been developed, suggests a rather reasonable set of actions to be undertaken, it presupposes an upgrade in the field of communication, care pathways, fostering healthy population and application of the corresponding interventions, which cannot be possibly done simultaneously. Because of the significance of teaching inpatients to prevent the situations of fall and be aware of the actions to be taken in the case in point, nursing specialists must focus on developing the methods of spreading awareness prior to applying the fall prevention strategies.
Current Clinical Practices in Fall Prevention: Incorporating Various Approaches
It would be wrong to assume that the Multisystemic Fall Prevention Model (MFPM) has always been the tool for addressing the issue of falls and the negative effects that they cause, from bruises to fractures and concussions. In fact, the very phenomenon of falling used not to be viewed as a nursing issue (Choi, Lawler, Boenecke, Ponatoski, & Zimring, 2011). A further analysis of the effects that falls cause in elderly inpatients has revealed that the issue can and must be prevented, which led to the design of the MFPM, yet the latter needs a certain improvement in terms of the communication process.
Literature Review: The Opinions That Matter
Having developed greatly over time, the current fall prevention approach allows nurses to sustain improvements in the the patients’ condition and contribute to their faster recovery (Shever et al., 2011). At present, the Multisystemic Fall Prevention Model is the model that most nurses use in their attempts at reducing the threat of fall and the resulting injury for inpatients, especially for elderly ones.
In fact, a close analysis of the subject matter has shown that the MFPM is, in fact, a rather new introduction into the realm of nursing and care giving. Unlike its predecessors, the MFPM approach suggests that the process of intervention should be coupled with enhanced communication and spreading awareness regarding the threats of falls. Although this is a major foot forward in addressing the issue of falls among inpatients, the strategy could still use some improvement, as it obviously lacks focus between the patient–therapist communication and the process of intervention implementation (Shever et al., 2011).
However, as far as the key challenges in determining the essential elements of the MFPM are concerned, one must admit that in most cases, and, as a rule, the design of the corresponding fall prevention approaches boils down to determining the individual specifics of the patients and the characteristics of their daily activities, lifestyle, the threats that their unique environment poses to them, etc. (Spoelstra, Given & Given, 2012).
Herein the need to put a stronger emphasis on the communication component in the MFPM lies. Indeed, since the design of the corresponding strategy for fall prevention hinges on the specific elements of the environment that the patient lives in, it is imperative that the latter should be provided with detailed instructions on avoiding unique threats. Consequently, the significance of the communication process and the care pathways optimization (Lloyd, 2011) is the key to delivering the most efficient interventions possible in unique scenarios.
Therefore, it can be suggested that the stages of the MFPM approach should be prioritized and that some of its elements should be viewed as prior to the rest of the objectives. While stating that certain stages of the MFPM are more important than the other ones would be wrong, it is still crucial to stress the duration of each and every stage, as well as the point at which they commence.
Hence, the communication enhancement issue must be viewed as the top priority in the course of the MFPM implementation, which must be carried out throughout the intervention and continue afterwards as a part of the safety program for elderly inpatients as people in the risk group. Indeed, raising awareness of the patients is a crucial step towards not only the prevention of falls, but also obtaining adequate help, which will alleviate the negative effects of the fall (i.e., applying bandages, using certain medicine for bruises removal, etc.).
In other words, it is not merely the question whether the intervention should start with the issue of communication improvement, but the concept of making the communication process and, therefore, the process of data acquisition for elderly patients consistent throughout the intervention that matters in the given research. Researches have shown that there is the need to improve communication with elderly inpatients through care pathways optimization and the incorporation of both traditional and modern technology, as well as handoff communication tools in order to facilitate an unceasing contact among patients and nurses (Choi et al., 2011).
This calls for an introduction of new and improved tools for communication between nurses and inpatients, particularly, the elderly ones. At this point, the obvious problem regarding the integration of new information technologies into the communication process deserves to be mentioned, Because of their age, elderly patients need that the tools for obtaining help and retrieving data should be as simple in use and interface as possible; consequently, the redesign of the current approaches towards fall prevention technique must be adopted.
Commentary on the Data Search Process: Databases Used
In the course of the research, the CINAHL database was used extensively as the key source of the reference material. Being the location of the essential nursing resources, the specified database has a range of up-to-date articles written by world renowned and widely acclaimed nursing specialists. Therefore, the specified resource can be considered perfect for retrieving materials for an evidence-based research. Time is also of major essence; it is important that the process of patient training and increase in awareness should be carried out within a few (three or less) weeks.
PICOT Question: Putting the Elements Together
Therefore, the PICOT question that will need to be answered in order to improve the existing fall prevention strategies for inpatients is supposed to look the following way: In the adult inpatients of a hospital, how does the emphasis on the care pathways optimization and communication compared to the stress on the creation of a robust and healthy population and the application of fall interventions affect elderly inpatients within their stay in hospital (approximately 1–3 weeks)?
Reference List
Choi, Y. S., Lawler, A., Boenecke, C. R., Ponatoski, E. & Zimring, C. M. (2011). Developing a multi-systemic fall prevention model, incorporating the physical environment, the care process and technology: a systematic review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 67(12), 2501–2524.
Lloyd, T. (2011). Creation of a multi-interventional fall-prevention program: using evidence-based practice to identify high-risk units and tailor interventions. Orthopedic Nursing, 30(4), 249–257.
Shever, L. L., Titler, A. G., Mackin, M. L. & Kueny, A. (2011). Fall prevention practices in adult medical-surgical nursing units described by nurse managers. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 33(3), 385–397.
Spoelstra, S. A., Given, B. L., & Given, G. W. (2012). Fall prevention in hospitals: An integrative review. Clinical Nursing Research, 21(1), 92–112.