Reducing routine bed and chair alarms in hospitals
Official title: De-Implementing Fall Prevention Alarms in Hospitals
Funded at University of Florida · NIH-11178625 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tries to safely stop routine use of bed and chair alarms for hospital patients and replace them with better ways to prevent falls.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $348,052 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG073408-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11178625 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Hospitalized adults who are on units that currently use bed or chair alarms and who are admitted to participating hospital units would be the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Patients in hospitals or units where alarms are judged medically necessary for individual safety or who are not admitted to participating sites may not benefit from this project.
What this research studies
Researchers partner with hospital units to stop routine use of bed and chair alarms and to introduce safer alternatives using the Choosing Wisely De-implementation Framework. The project uses a cluster-randomized design where some units change alarm policies and receive staff training while others continue usual care. Investigators will track falls, fall-related injuries, alarm use, and patient and staff experiences over time. Findings will help hospitals and policymakers decide whether and how to remove ineffective alarms without increasing harm.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reduce unnecessary alarms, lower noise and alarm-related distress, and maintain or improve patient safety by promoting more effective fall-prevention practices.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have shown that bed and chair alarms generally do not reduce falls, but structured efforts to stop using alarms in hospital settings are less well tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Florida
Gainesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shorr, Ronald I — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Shorr, Ronald I
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.