title: Seclusion and restraint in psychiatry: patients' experiences and practical suggestions on how to improve practices and use alternatives.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study explored psychiatric inpatients' experiences of, and their suggestions for, improvement of seclusion/restraint, and alternatives to their use in Finland.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data were collected by focused interviews (n= 30) and were analyzed with inductive content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients' perspectives received insufficient attention during seclusion/restraint processes. Improvements (e.g., humane treatment) and alternatives (e.g., empathetic patient-staff interaction) to seclusion/restraint, as suggested by the patients, focused on essential parts of nursing practice but have not been largely adopted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients' basic needs have to be met, and patient-staff interaction has to also continue during seclusion/restraint. Providing patients with meaningful activities, planning beforehand, documenting the patients' wishes, and making patient-staff agreements reduce the need for restrictions and offer alternatives for seclusion/restraint. Service users must be involved in all practical development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku, Department of Nursing Science, Turku, Finland. raija.kontio@utu.fi
authors.forename: Raija
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kontio
authors.forename: Grigori
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Joffe
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Putkonen
authors.forename: Lauri
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kuosmanen
authors.forename: Kimmo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hane
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holi
authors.forename: Maritta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Välimäki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000451:nursing*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010358:Patient Participation; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D012149:Restraint, Physical / Q000523:psychology*; D012934:Social Isolation / Q000523:psychology*