The experiences of healthcare professionals using new screening tools in clinical and public health settings are crucial to the implementation process. However, further research is needed on their experiences with fall risk screening.
This study utilized the i-PARIHS framework to explore healthcare professionals’ experiences with the First-time Injurious Falls (FIF) screening tool, aiming to identify barriers and facilitators for implementing the FIF tool in primary healthcare and public health settings.
A qualitative study with four focus group interviews and seven individual interviews was carried out, using a semi-structured interview guide. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed with reflexive thematic analysis. The study included 20 informants (13 women and seven men), with a mean age of 39 years (range 24 to 54). The informants were working in the primary healthcare (eight physiotherapists, three occupational therapists, three managers, two registered nurses, and one dietician) and in a public health project (one physiotherapist and two health educators).
The analysis resulted in three themes; “A valuable tool in clinical practice”, “How to get everyone onboard when implementing fall risk screening”, and “Applicable in many areas of health services but not in all” with four related subthemes “Quick and easy to use for all healthcare professionals”, “Simplifies assessment and creates a platform for discussion”, “Need for clear instructions and action list”, and “Should be incorporated into daily routines”.
The FIF tool was well-received by informants in practice as it was user-friendly and potentially effective in preventing falls. However, there is room for improvement, particularly in clarifying instructions to mitigate possible misinterpretations. The informants emphasized that implementation of a new screening tool requires favorable organizational conditions such as managerial support, that the tool is easily accessible, and the results are easy to document.
The FIF tool seems to be a valuable screening tool for predicting first-time injurious falls in older adults, suitable for use by various healthcare professionals.The instrument should be easily accessible, easy to document in medical records and supported by management to establish it as a new routine, considering the constraints posed by limited time in everyday clinical practice. However, this study indicated also that the implementation process could be more difficult in settings where the screening tool is not applicable.
Screening for falls
Primary Healthcare
