FLOORING
Shock-absorbent flooring’s impact on patient falls
Dr. Amy Drahota, Reader (Associate Professor) at the University of Portsmouth, and Dr. Iman Mohagheghian, senior lecturer (Assistant Professor) at the University of Surrey, discuss an often-over- looked consideration for flooring decision-makers – that of shock-absorbency, and the implications of installing shock-absorbent flooring on patient fall-related injuries and staff safety. Here, they summarise the most up-to-date evidence, and share details of some new research.
There are numerous factors to consider when deciding on the best flooring type for use in healthcare facilities, not least matters of endurance, sustainability, and environmental credentials, cleaning and maintenance, infection control, aesthetics, and cost. Safety considerations will commonly focus on the suitability of the material for areas which may become wet or contaminated, with slip resistance being a key concern. But what if flooring could play a bigger role in patient and staff safety?
The problem of falls Slips, trips, and falls make up the majority of safety incidents in the healthcare sector. Aside from the common consequences of pain and bruising following a fall, patients are vulnerable to serious injuries such as hip fracture and head injuries, and even death as a result. Longer-term disability can result from a fall, with loss of independence, ongoing care needs, and increased risk of moving into a care home. Falls can also have a psychological impact, leading to fear of falling, anxiety, depression, and avoidance of activity, which can be counter-productive, and may actually increase a person’s risk of falling further. A person’s risk of falling is over three times higher if they have fallen before.
Presence of others
Cognition Co-morbidities Bone strength Activity Medication
History of falls
Clothing Footwear Flooring Mobility Slip and trip hazards Figure 2: Risk factors for falls and related injuries.
Figure 1: Shock-absorbing floors can come in many designs. Many factors can lead to a fall and
contribute to related injuries (not just a slippery floor), with factors such as cognition, medications, footwear, clothing, bone strength, eyesight, health conditions, mobility problems, activity levels, the presence of others, and being in a disorientating environment (such as a hospital), all having a part to play
Eyesight
Disorientating environment
(see Figure 2). There is therefore no panacea when it comes to falls and injury prevention, but flooring does have a part to play. The flooring choice in a hospital is going to impact upon a person’s injuries – whether this has been considered in the decision-making or not; landing on a hard, concrete sub-floor, with a 2 mm overlay, will be a contributing factor to any injuries sustained.
Means of protection In the quest to improve outcomes for patients, one approach is to look for ways to prevent serious falls from occurring, by protecting patients from life-limiting injuries. Hip protectors have been explored, but they can be uncomfortable to wear, are not always worn at the time of a fall, and only protect one part of the body. Shock-absorbing flooring seeks to prevent fall-related injuries by reducing the impact forces that someone experiences when they land on the floor. Flooring is part of the ambient environment, so – unlike hip protectors – requires no user conformity,
August 2023 Health Estate Journal 59
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