An educational intervention to improve self-efficacy and knowledge of falls prevention among hospitalized patients

Falling is one of the most common adverse events leading to patient injury. The purpose of this study (as part of a PhD. paper) was to investigate the effects of educational interventions on patients' self-efficacy and falls prevention knowledge. A sample of 176 participants was recruited at a university hospital in Iran. Each patient received an educational pamphlet on falls prevention. The questionnaire measured patient knowledge (scores ranged from 0 to 20) and falls prevention self-efficacy (scores ranged from 20 to 60) before and after the third day of the intervention. Overall, the mean knowledge score improved from 47.8% (9.57 +/- 2.51) to 68.3 (13.68 +/- 1.85), which was statistically significant (p < 0.001). For falls prevention self-efficacy, the pre-test mean was 41.0 +/- 7.42 (range: 20-56; total: 60), but the post-test mean improved to 47.26 +/- 9.12. 0.05. Our study suggests that the hospitalized patients have little knowledge of falls prevention and that educational interventions have improved their knowledge of falls prevention. Study participants were confident in implementing useful falls prophylaxis during hospitalization.