Evaluation of a pediatric fall risk assessment tool /by Carole Lynn Cooper.

Patient falls and related injuries are being recognized as an indicator of patient safety for health care organizations. Pediatric healthcare organizations have had significant challenges implementing effective fall reduction programs due to the current lack of supportive research. Currently there are several published fall risk assessment tools for screening hospitalized pediatric patients, although few have been validated. The objective of this study was to identify the predictive ability of the Children???s Hospital Central California Humpty Dumpty Fall Risk Screening Tool to identify hospitalized children at risk for falling. A pair matched case-control methodology was used to identify significant risk factors between 106 hospitalized pediatric patients who fell and 106 non- fallers matched according to age, gender, and diagnosis. Physiological, environmental variables, fall risk status, and additional information pertaining to the fall event were abstracted. The study revealed that children who fell frequently were less than four years of age and had a more severe illness with secondary co-morbid conditions. An evaluation of the current Children???s Hospital Central California Humpty Dumpty Fall Risk Screening Tool identified a sensitivity rate of 64%, and a specificity of 53%, indicating a revision of the tool is needed. A more accurate tool would facilitate a reduction in fall rates, improve the efficiency and effectiveness of care and promote a safe environment for patients