Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND:Individuals with cancer are at a heightened risk of experiencing falls and related injuries during hospitalization. PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:Our aim was to systematically summarize and evaluate the literature examining the effectiveness of fall prevention interventions employed in the oncology inpatient setting. METHODS:Guided by the PRISMA statement, a health librarian conducted searches of 5 databases, which uncovered 1039 unduplicated studies that were screened by 2 independent reviewers. The Quality Improvement Minimum Quality Criteria Set was used to evaluate methodological quality. RESULTS:The 10 quality improvement studies all included a multifactorial intervention and most based these on an assessment with few targeting cancer-specific factors. Most interventions were staff-focused with a few incorporating the patient's input. CONCLUSIONS:Individualized assessments and interventions enhance care effectiveness when patient care teams and patients are aligned. Nurse rounding and engaging patients improve communication, self-assessment, satisfaction, and adherence, warranting further research and technological advancements.