The Morse Falls Scale: An Evidence-Based Intervention in the South of Saudi Arabia

Introduction: As the population continues to age, preventing patient falls is an ongoing concern faced by healthcare facilities around the world. A fall can have devastating effects on the quality of life for individuals. Despite several interventions currently in place, patients are still experiencing to fall.

Purpose: The purpose of this evidence-based study was to examine the effectiveness of implementing the Morse Falls Scale (MFS) in the effort to reduce the number of falls occurring in a healthcare facility in Saudi Arabia.

Method: The Morse Falls Scale assessment was implemented at a 600-bed medical center in the South of Saudi Arabia on October 25, 2014. A total of 230 Nursing staff were provided the instructions on the use in implementing the scale with medical, surgical and renal patients. The number of patient falls was recorded after the implementation of the MFS. Data were collected monthly from November 2013-2016 and compared to pre-implementation of the scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive measures and percentages.

Results: A total sample of 600 patients were implemented the MFS scale. Both adult male and female were included. Results indicate that the implementation of the MFS decreased the monthly fall rate significantly from pre-MFS of 5.7 events (11.3%) to a post-MFS, monthly fall rate of 1.4 events (2.75%).

Conclusion: Falls cause serious injuries, which often leads to an increase in health care costs as well as the length of hospitalization and in many cases death. The MFS tool was effective in reducing the number of falls. The result of the study indicates that MFS is provided nurses with an improved method to assess those at risk for a fall during hospitalization. The MFS is a reliable predictor to determine those patients at risk for falls and can improve health outcomes and decrease the length of hospitalization globally.