Determining the fall risk of patients with eye surgery and evaluation of the effectiveness of initiatives aimed at preventing falls

Objective: The aim of this research is to determine the fall risk of patients with eye surgery and to evaluate the effectiveness of initiatives aimed at preventing falls. Method: This research was made between the dates of April 18 and June 19,2016 at eye-operating theatre of the state-owned education and research hospital. Sample of research consisted of 307 patients who gave informed consent to complete the questionnaires. Data was collected with a Patient Identification Form, DENN Fall Risk Evaluation Scale and Taking Precautions for Falls and Postoperative Fall Evaluation Forms. In the level of evaluation of data, descriptive statistical methods were used as well as Kolmogorov-Smirnov Z test, Mann Whitney U test and Kruskal Wallis test. Results: 32,2% of patients in the sample group were determined as age of 70 and over. 31,3% of patients were between 40 and 59 ages and %51,3 of patients were male. According to fall risk variable, 52,8% of patients' fall risks were low, 28,0% of patients' fall risks were medium and 19,2% of patients' fall risks were high. Additionally, 55.0% of patients took measures to avoid falls. Most measures taken are to help getting up the first 24 hours after surgery (68,6%), to ensure adequate lighting at night (57,0%) and to avoid wet floor areas. It was determined that 0.5% of the patients who were phoned on the 7th and 15th days after surgery experienced falls in the first 7 days and 2.3% of the patients in the first 15 days. Conclusion: Fall risks of patients with eye surgery were determined as low. In addition, taking measures to avoid falls were found as partially sufficient. It is suggested that training be given about falls prevention to the patients and their relatives. Keywords: fall risk, fall prevention, eye diseases, nursing, patient safety