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Seniors Falls Investigative Methodology (SFIM): A Systems Approach to the Study of Falls in Seniors*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 March 2010

Aleksandra A. Zecevic ,
Alan W. Salmoni ,
John H. Lewko  and
Anthony A. Vandervoort
Aleksandra A. Zecevic*
Affiliation:
School of Physical Therapy, University of Western Ontario
Alan W. Salmoni
Affiliation:
School of Kinesiology, University of Western Ontario
John H. Lewko
Affiliation:
Centre for Research in Human Development, Laurentian University
Anthony A. Vandervoort
Affiliation:
School of Physical Therapy, University of Western Ontario
*
Requests for offprints should be sent to:/Les demandes de tirés-à-part doivent être adressées à : Aleksandra A. Zecevic, Ph.D., School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, Elborn College, London, ON N6G 1H1. (azecevi3@uwo.ca)
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Abstract

An in-depth understanding of human factors and human error is lacking in current research on seniors' falls. Additional knowledge is needed to understand why seniors are falling. The purpose of this article is to describe the adapting of the Integrated Safety Investigation Methodology (ISIM) (used for investigating transportation and industrial accidents) to studying seniors' falls. An adapted version—the Seniors Falls Investigative Methodology (SFIM)—uses a systems approach to take an investigation beyond the immediate cause of an incident and reveal unsafe acts and deeply imbedded unsafe conditions that contribute to adverse outcomes. An example case study is used to describe six phases of the investigative process in detail. The SFIM has the potential to identify safety deficiencies; utilize existing knowledge about falls; establish a standardized reporting system; shift focus from the faller to the system; and guide targeted prevention.

Résumé

La recherche actuelle portant sur les chutes chez les aînés manque d'analyse approfondie sur des questions telles les facteurs humains et l'erreur humaine. Un savoir plus élargi est nécessaire afin de comprendre pourquoi les personnes âgées sont exposées à des chutes. Le but de cette étude est d'illustrer la possibilité d'adapter la Méthodologie intégrée d'enquête sur la sécurité (MIES), utilisée dans l'investigation des accidents dans les domaines de l'industrie et des transports, à l'étude des chutes chez les aînés. La version adaptée de cette méthodologie — Méthodologie d'enquête sur les chutes chez les aînés (MECA) utilise une approche systémique afin de mener l'investigation au-delà des causes immédiates d'un incident, pour révéler les conditions et les actions dangereuses qui contribuent à des résultats cliniques défavorables. Une étude de cas est utilisée comme exemple pour décrire de manière détaillée les six phases du processus d'investigation. La MECA offre la possibilité de: identifier les manquements à la sécurité; utiliser les connaissances actuelles en matière de chutes; établir et standardiser un système d'échange de données; focaliser la perspective sur le système et non pas sur la victime des chutes à répétition; guider le processus de prévention ciblée.

Keywords

agingfalls in seniorshuman factorssystems approachinvestigation methodhuman errorpreventionvieillissementchutes chez les aînésfacteurs humainsapproche systémiqueméthode d'investigationerreur humaineprévention
Type
Policy and Practice Note/Note sur les lignes directrices et la pratique
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 26 , Issue 3 , Fall/Automne 2007 , pp. 281 - 290
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2007

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Footnotes

*

The first and second authors would like to acknowledge grant support from the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation.

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