Características de la escala Downton en la valoración del riesgo de caídas en pacientes hospitalizados

The data on the incidence of falls (0.51%) are similar to those found in other studies. Poor scores obtained on the Downton Index should serve as a wakeup call for the healthcare institutions. An assessment tool that classifies the at-risk patient should be included in patient safety profiles, provided it is of relevant validity to cover any changes in the patient's situation, and acts as a better yardstick than the nurses' own assessment.