Discussion Fall-Risk Assessment
NURS6540 Week 5 Discussion: Fall-Risk Assessment
This study aimed to identify factors that influence the implementation of fall prevention programs from the perspectives of the family physician (FP). A cross-sectional survey was conducted with all 1800 members of the Academy of Family Medicine, Malaysia. Sixty (54%) and 75 (67%) FPs did not routinely ask older people about falls and fear of falling, respectively. Seventy-nine FPs (71%) reported being unfamiliar with any guidelines for screening for fall risk. Our study revealed major gaps in the delivery of evidence-based fall prevention in practice by Malaysian FPs.
Fall risks are very high for the geriatric population. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2013), one out of every three adults aged 65 years and older falls each year. This can be attributed to factors such as changes in aging, other health issues, environment, and effects of prescribed drugs. When caring for geriatric patients, it is important to screen them for risks and perform fall-risk assessments. These assessment tools help to determine the level of risk for patients so that preventive measures can be taken. The implications of falls are very serious and range from fractures to mental health disorders and even death. In this Discussion, you explore risk assessment tools for use with patients at your practicum site.
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To prepare:
Review the Kanis article in this week’s Learning Resources.
Consider a geriatric patient at your practicum site who is at risk for falls. Coordinate an opportunity to assess this patient with your Preceptor.
Note: When referring to your patient, make sure to use a pseudonym or other false form of identification. This is to ensure the privacy and protection of the patient.
In addition to the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX), select one of the following tools to assess this patient for falls:
Tinetti Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA)
Systems Approach
Berg Balance Scale
Elderly Mobility Scale
Timed Unsupported Stead Stand (TUSS)
Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT)
Hendrich II Fall Risk Model
Consider why you selected the assessment tool for this particular patient.
Assess the patient using the tool you selected under Preceptor guidance. Reflect on the assessment, including any issues with the patient and/or the effectiveness of the tool.
Think about strategies and interventions to reduce the risk of falls for frail elders.
Week 6 Assignment 1: Application – PICO Analysis of Dementia, Delirium, and Depression
A PICO analysis is used to pose a focused clinical question to which you find appropriate evidence-based answers. The PICO question should include the patient or population (P), anticipated intervention (I), comparison group or current standard (C), and outcome desired (O). In this Assignment, you develop a question related to dementia, delirium, or depression. Through your PICO analysis, you explore various resources and examine current evidence to answer the question you develop.
To prepare:
Select one of the following disorders as your topic: dementia, delirium, or depression.
Review the guidelines in the “Literature Review Matrix” document in this week’s Learning Resources.
Think about a research question around your issue as indicated in Part I: PICO Analysis of Research Topic.
Consider the resources you will use, search terms and criteria, and Boolean search strings as indicated in Part II: Search Strategy.
Using the Walden Library and other appropriate databases, locate five articles related to your PICO question. At least one article must be a systematic review. All of the articles should be primary sources.
Reflect on the five articles you selected as indicated in Part III: Analysis of Literature. Consider the conceptual framework/theory, main finding, research method, strengths of study, weaknesses, and level of evidence for each article.
Consider how to use the summaries in Part III to create an evidence table. Use this evidence table to determine appropriate treatment options for patients who present with the disorder you selected as your topic.
To complete:
Formulate a question around the disorder you selected as indicated in Part I: PICO Analysis of Research Topic.
Identify the resources you will use, search terms and criteria, and Boolean search strings as indicated in Part II: Search Strategy.
Summarize the five articles you selected as indicated in Part III: Analysis of Literature. Describe the conceptual framework/theory, main finding, research method, strengths of study, weaknesses, and level of evidence for each article.
Create an evidence table based on the article summaries in Part III. Describe appropriate treatment options for patients based on this evidence table.
By Day 7 of Week 6
This Assignment is due.
Submission and Grading Information
To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:
Please save your Assignment using the following naming convention: “WK6Assgn1+lastname+first initial”.
Click the Week 6 Assignment 1 link.
Next, from the Attach File area, click on the Browse My Computer button. Find the document you saved as “WK6Assgn1+last name+first initial.(extension)” and click Open. If you are submitting multiple files, repeat until all files are attached.
Click on the Submit button to complete your submission.