Falls during pregnancy represent a significant health concern, making the identification of at-risk individuals paramount for healthcare providers. This article delves into the landscape of fall risk assessment tools specifically designed or utilized within maternity care settings. We explore the findings of a comprehensive review aimed at pinpointing and describing these tools, shedding light on their application and validation status.
Our investigation spanned across major databases including PubMed, CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE Complete, Cochrane Library, Scopus, SciELO, and RCAAP, encompassing studies published up to November 2022. We focused on reports detailing the use of fall risk assessment tools for women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, irrespective of the care environment.
From the gathered data, our analysis identified thirteen reports discussing nine distinct fall risk assessment tools. A notable finding was that seven of these tools were employed during the antenatal period, including tools like Kyle’s tool, the Pregnant Women Information Form and Assessment Scale for Risk of Falling in Pregnant Women, and the Obstetric Fall Risk Assessment System. Furthermore, the Obstetric Fall Risk Assessment System was also noted for its use during labor. The postpartum phase saw the application of several tools such as the Cooksey-Post Obstetric Delivery Fall Risk Assessment, Kyle’s tool, the Risk of Falling in Post-partum Women (SLOPE), the Obstetric Fall Risk Assessment System, the Post-epidural Fall Risk Assessment Score, and the Maternal Fall Risk Assessment Scale. It’s important to note that tools like the Dionne’s Egress Test and the Motor Strength Scale were found to be less relevant as they do not specifically cater to the unique characteristics of women in maternity care.
Crucially, the review highlighted a significant gap: the psychometric properties, such as reliability and validity, were only available for a subset of these tools, namely the Pregnant Women Information Form and Assessment Scale for Risk of Falling in Pregnant Women, Post-epidural Fall Risk Assessment Score, Maternal Fall Risk Assessment Scale, and Risk of Falling in Post-partum Women. This indicates that while various fall risk assessment tools are being used in maternity care, many lack rigorous validation for this specific population.
In conclusion, our findings underscore the necessity for healthcare professionals to utilize fall risk assessment tools that are specifically validated for women receiving maternity care. Employing validated tools is crucial for enabling nurses and other healthcare providers to make informed clinical judgments regarding fall risk and to implement effective, targeted fall prevention strategies. This evidence-based approach is essential for enhancing patient safety and ensuring the well-being of mothers throughout their maternity journey.
