Consequences of an intervention to reduce restrictive side rail use in nursing homes.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effect of an advanced practice nurse (APN) intervention on restrictive side rail usage in four nursing homes and with a sample of 251 residents. A secondary question explored the association between restrictive side rail reduction and bed-related falls.


METHODS
Pre- and posttest design.


METHODS
Four urban nursing homes.


METHODS
All nursing home residents present in the nursing home at three time points (n=710, 719, and 707) and a subset of residents (n=251) with restrictive side rail use at baseline.


METHODS
APN consultation with individual residents and facility-wide education and consultation.


METHODS
Direct observation of side rail status, resident and nurse interview for functional status, mobility, cognition, behavioral symptoms, medical record review for demographics and treatment information, and incident reports for fall data.


RESULTS
At the institutional level, one of the four nursing homes significantly reduced restrictive side rail use (P=.01). At the individual participant level, 51.4% (n=130) reduced restrictive side rail use. For the group that reduced restrictive side rails, there was a significantly (P<.001) reduced fall rate (-0.053; 95% confidence interval (CI)=-0.083 to -0.024), whereas the group that continued restrictive side rail did not demonstrate a significantly (P=.17) reduced fall rate (-0.013; 95% CI=-0.056-0.030).


CONCLUSIONS
An APN consultation model can safely reduce side rail use. Restrictive side rail reduction does not lead to an increase in bed-related falls. Although side rails serve many purposes, routine use of these devices to restrict voluntary movement and prevent falls is not supported.
Capezuti
Elizabeth
E
John A. Hartford Foundation Institute for Geriatric Nursing, New York University College of Nursing, New York, New York 10003, USA. ec65@nyu.edu
Wagner
Laura M
LM
Brush
Barbara L
BL
Boltz
Marie
M
Renz
Susan
S
Talerico
Karen A
KA
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001513:Beds / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000592:standards*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012149:Restraint, Physical / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States