title: The use of physical restraints as a safety measure in the care of older people in four rehabilitation wards: findings from an exploratory study.
abstract: We investigated the prevalence and type of physical restraint used with older persons on four rehabilitation wards in Northern Ireland. A longitudinal observational approach was used. One hundred and two patients were observed on four occasions over a three-day period. Most of the patients (68%) were subjected to some form of physical restraint, side-rails being the most commonly observed method. Those who were restrained were dependent on nursing care to meet their needs and received more drugs than those whose mobility was not restricted. No association was found between restraint use and nursing staffing levels, nor was there any association with the incidence of falls. Nurses rationalised their use of restraint as being linked to wandering and patient protection in cases of confusional type behaviours. An association was found between stroke and the maintenance of positional support through the use of restraints (side-rails and screw-on tabletops). Approximately, one-third of those restrained had this noted in their care plans, with concomitant evidence of patient/family involvement in the restraining decision.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, United Hospitals and School of Health Sciences, University of Ulster, Jordanstown, BT37 0QB, Northern Ireland, UK. r.gallinagh@ulst.ac.uk
authors.forename: Róisín
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gallinagh
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nevin
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mc Ilroy
authors.forename: Fionnuala
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ludwick
authors.forename: Hugh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: McKenna
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D006748:Hospital Departments; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012046:Rehabilitation; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D012449:Safety / Q000592:standards*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation