Running Head: RESEARCH PROPOSAL: PART 2 1
Research Proposal: Part 2
Valerie Vick
UIN # L29354112
Liberty University
RESEARCH PROPOSAL: PART 2 2
Abstract
The consistency of falls being a National Patient Safety Goal (NPSG) are congruent to falls still
being a frequent occurrence within the healthcare setting. The CDC reported in 2016 that the
costs of injuries from falls are $31billion annually. Two-thirds of that cost is attributed to
hospital costs. The growing concern and prevalence of falls has gained attention from
researchers seeking to find, not only exactly what factors are intrinsic or extrinsic, but what can
be learned or changed to reduce its frequency of incidence. Since most falls are unanticipated
and are rarely observed, most research from this retrospective reporting has led to documenting
and preventing the intrinsic (e.g. psychological, physiological conditions) factors. This has often
led to the overlooked extrinsic (e.g. environmental) factors that surround each fall incident. This
paper will discuss the research findings of 3 different studies that considered the environmental
and hospital design features and the impact that it has on the prevalence of falls or its
contribution as a fall risk.
Research Proposal: Part 2
RESEARCH PROPOSAL: PART 2 3
The Center for Health Design: Study 1
The Center for Health Design and Coalition for Health Environments Research (CHER)