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Preventing adverse events in hospitalized patients is a priority goal of patient safety programs. In-facility falls and in-facility suicide are 2 priority conditions that are thought to be preventable. One-to-one sitters or constant observation is an intervention that has long been used, rooted in tradition: staff that are immediately at hand can help prevent a fall or redirect a patient from engaging in a harmful act. However, one-to-one sitters is a costly intervention, and evidence that it is effective is uncertain; hence, VA policymakers asked for an up-to-date review to inform policy and practice.
KQ1. What is the effectiveness of patient sitters (one-to-one observation, patient safety companions, etc) for reducing falls?
KQ2. What is the effectiveness of patient sitters (one-to-one observation, patient safety companions, etc) for reducing suicide or self-harm?
KQ3. What is the effectiveness of patient sitters (one-to-one observation, patient safety companions, etc) for reducing wandering?
KQ4. What is the cost-effectiveness of one-to-one observations compared to usual care for patients at risk of falls, suicide, or wandering?
One-to-One Observation: Systematic Review (Management eBrief)
Greeley A, Tanner E, Mak S, et al. Sitters as a Patient Safety Strategy to Reduce Hospital Falls: A Systematic Review. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2020;172(5):317-324. DOI: 10.7326/M19-2628
