Attitudes and participation in fall risk management: A tripartite, multicenter cross-sectional study of physicians, nurses, and patients

Abstract

Objective This study aims to explore the attitudes and involvement of physicians, nurses and patients in fall risk management, focusing on the factors influencing physicians’ participation. Methods This study utilized a convenience sampling, 4,272 participants (580 physicians, 2,775 nurses, 917 patients) from 19 Chinese provinces were enrolled via Questionnaire Star from 11 April to 31 May, 2024. The survey included general information, tripartite fall management perspectives, and 27-item medical staff/patient questionnaires. Medical staff evaluated fall risk through assessment, prevention, and management; patients reported adherence and staff participation. Results Physicians and nurses showed comparable attitude scores (55.02 ± 8.124 vs 54.58 ± 9.096, P  = 0.227), but physicians had higher participation (51.47 ± 9.703 vs 42.77 ± 12.052, P  < 0.001). Key factors influencing physicians’ engagement included education level, gender, and nurses’ invitation frequency/awareness of fall management importance. Staff identified patient noncompliance, disease complexity, and low risk awareness as challenges; patients cited disease severity, environmental hazards, and insufficient education. Conclusion Effective fall prevention requires multidisciplinary collaboration. Nurses predominantly lead fall management, while physicians demonstrate limited involvement, closely tied to nurses’ proactive engagement invitations. Cultivating a culture where nurses actively invite physician collaboration is critical to enhancing safety strategies.