National benchmarking data on inpatient falls and pressure ulcers
Background Inpatient falls and hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (PU) are significant adverse events in health care. Their systematic prevention requires shared benchmarking data and follow-up. The Consortium for the National Benchmarking of Nursing-Sensitive Outcomes (www.hoiverke.fi/en), currently including 15 wellbeing services counties in Finland, collects such benchmarking data.
Methods The retrospective observational registry data on falls and PUs were collected from university (n=5) and central hospitals (n=6) in 2021 and 2022. Statistical comparisons were performed with linear mixed models.
Results The data included 4,548 inpatient falls (1.8 falls/1,000 patient days, PD) and 1,917 (4.5%) patients with a hospital-acquired PU. The number of falls was highest in the speciality of General medicine (8.8/1,000 PD) and the lowest in Gynaecology and obstetrics (0.3 per 1,000 PD). The number of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers was highest in Anaesthesiology and intensive care (10.0%) and the lowest in Gynaecology and obstetrics (1.1%).
Conclusions Systematic documentation of falls and PUs, as well as nationally available benchmarking data, are essential in improving the quality of patient care to reduce adverse events which cause suffering and costs for the patients and society.
Terhi Lemetti, Anniina Heikkilä, Asta Heikkilä, Kristiina Junttila, Marja Kaunonen, Tiina Kortteisto, Santtu Mikkonen, Anu Nurmeksela, Susanne Salmela, Pia-Maria Tanttu, Tarja Tervo-Heikkinen
