Planning implementation of patient falls preventive education in hospitals: gaining the consumer perspective

Introduction
Falls in hospital are a serious risk to older patient recovery. Patient education programs that provide falls prevention advice are recommended. Obtaining perspectives of older adults about implementing these programs could improve how health professionals engage with hospital patients to educate them and increase patient enactment of falls prevention advice.
Method
Two forums, in two states of Australia were conducted using a modified World Café methodology. Older consumers who had previous admissions to hospital, shared their perspectives on three conversation topics: (i) delivery of a purpose-designed patient falls prevention education program called Safe Recovery; (ii) ward level support for program delivery; and (iii) organisational level support for the program. Table notes were combined and analysed using inductive content analysis.
Results
Older consumers from Western Australia (n=17) and Victoria (n=16) participated in the forums. The group consensus was “everyone can work together” to take action for falls prevention in hospitals. Consumer perspectives strongly concurred that implementation of the Safe Recovery Program for falls prevention on hospital wards require attention to the right timing for patients, personalisation of the education and multiple modes of delivery to optimise program exposure. Consumers advised that ward level support to remember and enact suitable strategies should be provided by staff, families, volunteers and peers. They requested clear communication between staff that ensured staff repeatedly and consistently reinforced patient participation and provided progress reports to patients on falls prevention. Organisations can support implementation by taking ownership for ensuring patients receive falls prevention
education, endorse staff falls education training and allocate resources for program sustainability..
Conclusion
Older consumers partnered in planning implementation of a patient falls prevention education program on hospital wards. Consumer engagement can provide valuable stakeholder feedback about barriers and enablers to delivery of patient falls prevention education, leading to successful implementation by hospitals