Risk of fall in users of emergency care units
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36489/saudecoletiva.2021v11i68p7507-7520Keywords:
Patient safety, Accidental falls, Emergency nursing, Emergency medical services, Quality of health careAbstract
Objective: Investigating the association of the risk of fall with the care sector and age group of users of Emergency Care Units. Method: A cross-sectional and analytical study conducted from September to April/2016 in eight units in southern Brazil. A total of 377 users were sampled, to whom the Morse Scale was prospectively applied. Data analysis was based on descriptive statistics and Chi-square test for categorical variables. Results: There was a higher prevalence of users at high risk of fall in the emergency sector (67.3%), and low risk in the observation sector (56.8%). Homogeneous distribution of medium risk was observed in the emergency, observation and hospitalization sectors. Among the elderly, 68.4% were at high risk. Difference (value-p<0.0001) was observed in the variables care sector and age group. Conclusion: There is an association of the risk of falls, care sector and age of the health service user.