Patient and system factors associated with unassisted and injurious falls in hospitals: an observational study

BMC Geriatrics

Table 5 Odds Ratios for Patient and System Factors Associated with Increased Odds of Fall-Related Injury

Patient or System Factor	Crude Odds Ratio^* (95% CI)	Adjusted Odds Ratio^† (95% CI)
Age > 65 years^‡	2.20 (1.22–3.96)	2.55 (1.32–4.94)
Fall in Bathroom^§	2.23 (1.32–3.77)	2.48 (1.41–4.36)
NO Alarms in Use^ǁ	1.58 (1.00–2.49)	1.46 (0.89–2.41)
Unassisted^¶	2.28 (1.28–4.04)	1.48 (0.69–3.14)
Hands on Assist WITHOUT Gait Belt^¶	4.76 (1.99–14.15)	3.65 (1.34–9.97)

CI, Confidence Interval.
^*Calculated using univariate logistic regression with all falls considered independent events
^†Calculated using multivariate logistic regression and adjusted for the influence of other variables in the model
^‡Reference category = 19 to 64 years
^§Reference category = fall occurred in location other than the bathroom
^ǁNO Alarms in Use means the hospital did not report that either bed or chair alarms were in use as interventions to prevent a reported fall. Reference category = either bed or chair alarms were checked as interventions in use to prevent a reported fall
^¶Unassisted and Hands on Assist WITHOUT Gait Belt indicate whether or not hands on assist was provided at the time of the fall and whether or not a gait belt was used to provide that assistance. Reference category = Hands on Assist WITH Gait Belt

ISSN: 1471-2318