Predictors of Patient Falls and Fall Prevention Practices Among Nurses in Medical Wards of Tertiary Hospitals in Nigeria

Background

Patient falls remain one of the most common adverse events occurring in healthcare settings and contribute significantly to morbidity, prolonged hospitalization, increased healthcare costs, and reduced quality of life. Nurses play a critical role in fall risk assessment, patient monitoring, and implementation of preventive measures. Despite the availability of evidence-based fall prevention protocols, falls continue to occur in Nigerian hospitals due to patient-related, environmental, and organizational factors. Understanding nurses' practices and factors influencing fall prevention is essential for improving patient safety and healthcare quality. This study seeks to evaluate predictors of patient falls and fall prevention practices among nurses in tertiary hospitals in Nigeria.

Research Objectives

• Assess nurses' knowledge of fall prevention strategies.
• Determine the prevalence of patient falls in medical wards.
• Evaluate implementation of fall prevention practices.
• Examine factors associated with patient falls.
• Identify predictors of effective fall prevention.

Research Questions

• What is the level of nurses' knowledge regarding fall prevention?
• How prevalent are patient falls in medical wards?
• What fall prevention measures are commonly implemented?
• Which factors contribute to patient falls?
• What predicts effective fall prevention practices?

Suggested Methodology

Suggested Sample

Keywords