Purpose With the recent increase in interest in patient safety, prevention of falls in hospitalized children has become important. This study aimed to identify the incidence rate of falls among hospitalized children and explore fall-related characteristics.
Methods This retrospective descriptive study analyzed the medical information of 18,119 patients aged <18 years admitted to a general hospital in South Korea from electronic medical records and fall event reports between January 1, 2018, and September 30, 2023. The study variables included the general and clinical characteristics of the fall group and fall-related characteristics of the fall events. This study employed descriptive statistics and a chi-square test using IBM SPSS version 26.0.
Results Among the patients, 82 fall events were identified. Therefore, the fall incidence rate was 4.5 falls per 1,000 patients. Furthermore, a statistically significant difference was found concerning the type of injury sustained between children >1 year old and those <1 year old, and most cases had no damage or bruises. More cases were found in which falls occurred two days after hospitalization in winter and summer than on the day or the day after hospitalization, which was a statistically significant difference. In addition, fall prevalence was higher between 8 am and 4 pm, and when no caregiver was present. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, education and interventions to prevent fall events in infants and toddlers should persist throughout hospitalization, and it is necessary to guide continuous management and observation of the caregivers.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Age-specific differences in patient safety incidents: focus on falls and medication using the Korean patient safety incident reporting and learning system (2016–2023) Yumi Son, Mijin Lee BMC Health Services Research.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Nurses’ experiences of children’s fall accidents in South Korea: a phenomenological study Hye Jin Kim, Hyun Young Koo Child Health Nursing Research.2026; 32(1): 39. CrossRef
Risk factors for childhood falls in Ghana: A multi-center cross-sectional study Jacob Solomon Idan, Emmanuel Kweku Nakua, Shadrach Mintah, Joycelyn Serwaa Stevens, Eric Adjei-Boadu Journal of Public Health Research.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Trends in burden of falls among children aged 0–14 years in China from 1990–2021 and prediction to 2030 Huali Xiong, Daiqiang Liu, Xiaoqin Yuan, Yue Yang Frontiers in Public Health.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, and Glucose Levels in Patients Aged 0-2 Years with Head Trauma Assessed in the Emergency Department Ömer Yüceer, Mehmet Gül Eurasian Journal of Emergency Medicine.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Purpose This study aimed to investigate incidence of delirium in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and to analyze associated risk factors.
Methods The participants were 95 patients, newborn to 18 years, who were admitted to the PICU. The instruments used were the Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS), and the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium. Data analysis was performed using the descriptive, x2 test, t-test, and logistic regression analyses.
Results The incidence of delirium in children admitted to the PICU was 42.1%. There were significant differences according to age (x2=14.10, p=.007), admission type (x2=7.40, p=.007), use of physical restraints (x2=26.11, p<.001), RASS score (x2=14.80, p=.001), need for oxygen (x2=5.31, p=.021), use of a mechanical device (x2=9.97, p=.041), feeding (x2=7.85, p=.005), and the presence of familiar objects (x2=29.21, p<.001). Factors associated with the diagnosis of delirium were the use of physical restraint (odds ratio [OR]=13.82, 95% confidence interval [CI]=4.16~45.95, p<.001) and the presence of familiar objects (OR=0.09, 95% CI=0.03~0.30, p=.002).
Conclusion Periodic delirium assessments and intervention should be actively performed. The use of restraints should be minimized if possible. The caregiver should surround the child with familiar objects and ensure a friendly hospital environment that is appropriate for the child.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Short-term effects of eye masks and earplugs on delirium and pain in awake, spontaneously breathing pediatric intensive care patients: A randomized controlled trial Hamza Ek, Şenay Aras Doğan, Arzu Oto Journal of Pediatric Nursing.2026; 88: 117. CrossRef
Pediatric Delirium in Pediatric Intensive Care Setting: A Review of Recognition and Prevalence Patricia Savrimuthu, Putri Yubbu Malaysian Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health.2025; 31(1): 33. CrossRef
Hyperactive Delirium and Short-Term Quetiapine Treatment: A Pediatric Case Feride Burcu Taflan, Melis Elif Elçi, Miraç Barış Usta Cyprus Turkish Journal of Psychiatry and Psycholog.2025; 7(4): 438. CrossRef
Nursing experiences and knowledge of paediatric delirium: Analysing knowledge‐practice gaps Soonyoung Shon, Minkyung Kang Nursing in Critical Care.2024; 29(5): 923. CrossRef
Non-pharmacological interventions for delirium in the pediatric population: a systematic review with narrative synthesis Kyua Kim, Ju Hee Jeong, Eun Kyoung Choi BMC Pediatrics.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Delirium in neonates and infants: a scoping review protocol Soonyoung Shon, Mi-So Shim, Minkyung Kang, Inah Kim BMJ Open.2024; 14(7): e084474. CrossRef
Effects of a Multifaceted Pediatric Delirium Education Program for Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Nurses on their Delirium Knowledge, Self-confidence in Delirium Nursing, and Delirium Assessment Accuracy: A One Group Pretest-Posttest Design Song Yi Nam, Su Jung Choi, Sa Rang Oh, Ji Eun Choi, Ki Young Park Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing.2023; 16(1): 56. CrossRef
A Systematic Review and Pooled Prevalence of Delirium in Critically Ill Children* Diarmaid Semple, Moninne M. Howlett, Judith D. Strawbridge, Cormac V. Breatnach, John C. Hayden Critical Care Medicine.2022; 50(2): 317. CrossRef
Pediatri Yoğun Bakımlarda Deliryum Yönetiminde Hemşirenin Sorumlulukları ve Rolleri İlçim ERCAN, Evrim KIZILER Türkiye Sağlık Bilimleri ve Araştırmaları Dergisi.2021; 4(1): 67. CrossRef
, Hyunju Kang
First
Prev
