Factors affecting patients' use of alarm systems in geriatric hospitals
J. Tyrrell, P. Couturier, A. Franco, P. Moulin
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AbstractContext. Call-buttons and alarm systems are common for older people living at home. Geriatric in-patients tend to be more dependent and frail. Hospitalisation neither guarantees constant surveillance, nor protection from falls and other hazards. To what extent are the simple call-button systems adequate for older patients in geriatric units? Objectives. The objectives of this study were to (i) review the circumstances of accidents which occurred in a geriatric rehabilitation setting; (ii) assess the accessibility of call-buttons provided for elderly patients; (iii) evaluate the perceived safety problems for this patient group and the adequacy of call-buttons. Methods. (i) A review of the hospital's accident declaration forms from the previous two years examined the circumstances of in-patient accidents; (ii) An observation schedule was used to assess availability and accessibility of call-buttons for 115 elderly in-patients; (iii) Semi-structured interviews with nursing staff were conducted to discuss the Call-button system, and to identify the types of patient who need more assistance. Results. (i) Most accidents occurred during daytime, when the patient was alone in his bedroom, and fell; (ii) Call-buttons were available and accessible for less than 10% of patients during daytime; yet most patients needed assistance for basic activities of daily living; (iii) Falls, wandering, and choking were perceived sources of risk for many patients; the conventional call-button system would be unsuitable for alerting staff. Conclusions. Accidents within the hospital tend to occur when patients are alone and need to be able to summon assistance. The traditional call-button system for alerting staff is then inadequate. Few geriatric units provide wireless call-buttons and passive alert systems for this population; furthermore, these technologies do not reduce the demands for assistance. Gerontechnology may improve older patients' ability to summon help, but this cannot be a substitute for adequate staffing levels.Keywords: assistive technologies; patient safety; patient evaluation; geriatric care
J. Tyrrell, P. Couturier, A. Franco, P. Moulin (2004). Factors affecting patients' use of alarm systems in geriatric hospitals. Gerontechnology, 3(1), 16-28
https://doi.org/10.4017/gt.2004.03.01.004.00