Culturally Safe Falls Prevention Education
Exploring Chinese patients’ cultural preferences for falls prevention education in hospital wards
The University of Western Australia and Royal Perth Hospital
Funding: $19,875
Coordinating Principal Investigator: Ms Vivian Liong
Co-Investigators: Ms Kelly-Ann Hahn, Prof Anne-Marie Hill, Prof Christopher Etherton-Beer, Dr Mayura Iddagoda, Dr Jo-Aine Hang, Dr Cheng Yen Loo
Inpatient falls are the leading cause of harm for older hospital patients, but education can help patients stay safe. Our previous consumer research highlighted older patients are often unsure about how to stay safe in hospital. The Safe Recovery Program (SRP) was co-designed by our Australian team, tested in WA hospitals and uses videos, brochures, and personalised discussion to help older patients understand how to work with staff to prevent falls. The program has been shown to reduce hospital falls by up to 40%.
However, older migrants admitted to hospital face added barriers to using health education due to limited English language skills, diverse cultural beliefs and preferred ways of receiving health information. To ensure the SRP works effectively for all patients, it is important to understand these factors.
This project focuses on older Chinese patients, one of the largest and fastest-growing older migrant groups in Australia, and a significant cohort admitted at Royal Perth Hospital. The SRP resources have been translated into Chinese, and this project will explore how culturally appropriate and engaging the SRP is for older Chinese patients. The team will seek their views and preferences for receiving falls information, and experiences of support provided by hospital staff. Staff will also share their experiences of communicating with older Chinese patients and their families.
Hospitals need to support all patients including those from culturally diverse backgrounds by providing clear information about how to stay safe in hospital. This project will strengthen patient-centred care by supporting staff to deliver culturally inclusive falls prevention education, improving safety for older Chinese patients.
Culturally Safe Falls Prevention Education
Exploring Chinese patients’ cultural preferences for falls prevention education in hospital wards
The University of Western Australia and Royal Perth Hospital
Funding: $19,875
Coordinating Principal Investigator: Ms Vivian Liong
Co-Investigators: Ms Kelly-Ann Hahn, Prof Anne-Marie Hill, Prof Christopher Etherton-Beer, Dr Mayura Iddagoda, Dr Jo-Aine Hang, Dr Cheng Yen Loo
Inpatient falls are the leading cause of harm for older hospital patients, but education can help patients stay safe. Our previous consumer research highlighted older patients are often unsure about how to stay safe in hospital. The Safe Recovery Program (SRP) was co-designed by our Australian team, tested in WA hospitals and uses videos, brochures, and personalised discussion to help older patients understand how to work with staff to prevent falls. The program has been shown to reduce hospital falls by up to 40%.
However, older migrants admitted to hospital face added barriers to using health education due to limited English language skills, diverse cultural beliefs and preferred ways of receiving health information. To ensure the SRP works effectively for all patients, it is important to understand these factors.
This project focuses on older Chinese patients, one of the largest and fastest-growing older migrant groups in Australia, and a significant cohort admitted at Royal Perth Hospital. The SRP resources have been translated into Chinese, and this project will explore how culturally appropriate and engaging the SRP is for older Chinese patients. The team will seek their views and preferences for receiving falls information, and experiences of support provided by hospital staff. Staff will also share their experiences of communicating with older Chinese patients and their families.
Hospitals need to support all patients including those from culturally diverse backgrounds by providing clear information about how to stay safe in hospital. This project will strengthen patient-centred care by supporting staff to deliver culturally inclusive falls prevention education, improving safety for older Chinese patients.