Using human factors and ergonomics principles to prevent inpatient falls.
Kwok Y-ting, Lam M-sang. Using human factors and ergonomics principles to prevent inpatient falls. BMJ Open Qual. 2022;11(1):e001696. doi:10.1136/bmjoq-2021-001696.
Changes in healthcare delivery and care processes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic have increased the risk for falls. This study explored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of a fall prevention program (focused on human factors and ergonomics principles) on inpatient fall rates at one hospital in Hong Kong. Findings indicate that fall rates significantly increased from pre-COVID to during the first wave of the pandemic (July-June 2020). The fall prevention program – implemented in July 2020 – led to a reduction of fall rates, but not to pre-pandemic levels.