Determining the Acceptability and Feasibility of an Emergency Department Virtual Observation Unit Fall Prevention Program : A Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

Abstract Background A third of all community dwellers aged 65 and above fall each year (1); therefore, one of the most common reasons for older adults to present to an Emergency Department (ED). To prevent recurrent falls, EDs should implement programs to systematically assess patients’ multifactorial fall risks. In this study, we aim to determine the feasibility, safety, and acceptability of an ED Virtual Observation Unit (ED VOU) Falls program. Methods This is a quasi-experimental study that aims to enroll 100 patients aged ≥ 65 years who present to the ED with a history of falling within 1 year or a risk of falling. Recruitment began 3/9/2023 and aims to enroll 50 subjects in the VOU and 50 in the comparison group. We will determine the acceptability of the ED VOU falls program based on patient and provider surveys using a Likert scale. We will also calculate rates of patient enrollment refusal and adherence to fall-risk prevention recommendations using information from three-month follow up telephone calls. Systematic differences will be accounted for and calculated using the Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables and the Student’s t-test for continuous variables. This study has been approved by the MGB Institutional Review Board. Discussion This study will provide insights into the feasibility, acceptability and safety of a novel ED VOU Falls program with the aim of ultimately decreasing falls. In the future, such a program could be implemented as part of fall prevention interventions.