Geropsychiatric restraint use.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate predictors and reasons for restraint use with geropsychiatric patients.


METHODS
A prospective, correlational study.


METHODS
The geriatric unit of an acute-care psychiatric hospital.


METHODS
Twenty-one staff nurses and 131 patients admitted consecutively over a period of 6 months.


METHODS
Disruptive behaviors were measured with the Nursing Home Behavior Problem Scale (NHBPS), cognitive function was measured with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), mobility was measured with a Functional Mobility Screen (FMS), and reasons for restraint use were obtained with a questionnaire completed by nurses.


RESULTS
Patients with a diagnosis of dementia, impaired mobility, or behavioral problems were more likely to be restrained. The most frequent reasons given by staff for restraint use were an unsteady gait and a risk of falling. The incidence of restraint use was 27.1%.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of restraint with geropsychiatric patients may be more common than previously reported and requires further investigation.
DeSantis
J
J
Benedum Geriatric Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, PA 15213, USA.
Engberg
S
S
Rogers
J
J
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control; D000368:Aged; D032763:Behavior Control; D003072:Cognition Disorders; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D005851:Geriatric Nursing; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012149:Restraint, Physical