While many health care providers have implemented strategies to minimise or prevent patients falling, patients do still fall and for some, staff are present to witness the fall.  This presents staff with a significant dilemma, to assist or not assist, risking injury to themselves and/or to the patient.  

Aim

Patient handling advisors were surveyed to determine current teaching and practice with respect to staff providing assistance to a falling patient.

Method

The MHANZ/AAMHP conference on patient handling was held in Auckland, New Zealand in March 2012.  Conference delegates were invited to complete a survey on assisting the falling patient.  83 delegates completed the survey, a response rate of 43 percent.

Results

Of those identified as employed advisors, 61 percent reported that the organisation for which they worked had a procedure to address the falling patient.  29 percent of employed advisors reported no such procedures in place at their workplace.  Of those indicating there was a procedure, 30 percent reported the procedure recommended staff assist where possible, twice as many (62 percent) reported the procedure recommended no assistance be provided to a falling patient.  64 percent of the employed advisors indicated that staff at their facility were provided with training to support the procedure  i.e. to assist/not assist.  For consultant advisors, the advice they provide to staff as to assist or not assist a falling patient is mixed with 44 percent teaching staff to assist and 44 percent teaching staff should never assist.

Conclusion

Patient handling advisors are divided in their advice and what they recommend to staff with respect to the falling patient.  Inconsistent guidance to staff witnessing a patient fall may promote unsafe working conditions as well as compromise the safety of patients. The results highlight opportunities for further research to explore risks and solutions.