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Document Type

Thesis - University Access Only

Award Date

1996

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Graduate Nursing

First Advisor

Marcelline Harris

Keywords

falls in old age, nursing home patient wounds and injuries, South Dakota nursing homes

Abstract

This study explored the profile of South Dakota nursing home residents who experience falls by using data from the MDS+ assessment data base. A number of variables were selected from the MDS+ based on the fall profile in the literature review. The variables were analyzed in relation to three groups of nursing home residents. These groups were those who had experienced falls in the past 30 days, those who had experienced falls in the past 31-180 days and those who had not fallen in this time frame. Sixteen variables were found to have significant differences among the three study groups. For the most part those who had fallen in the past 30 days had the most deteriorated conditions and required the greatest amount of assistance. The group who had fallen in the past 31-180 days had for the most part more deteriorated conditions and required a greater amount of assistance than did the non-faller group.
There were a number of limitations discovered in utilizing the MDS-I- data base. The lack of unique identifiers made a longitudinal study impossible. Therefore, a descriptive comparative study was done with retrospective secondary analysis of data. The inclusion of unique identifiers in this assessment data would make more precise research possible and was identified as a major limitation of the use of this data base.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Falls (Accidents) in old age
Nursing home patients -- Wounds and injuries -- South Dakota

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

110

Publisher

South Dakota State University

Rights

Copyright © 1996 Elizabeth Clayton. All rights reserved

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