title: Nurses' perceptions and practice of physical restraint in China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is controversy concerning the use of physical restraint. Despite this controversy, some nurses still consider the application of physical restraint unavoidable for some of their clients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Identify the perceptions and practice of physical restraint in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a descriptive study that combined qualitative interviews with a quantitative cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 18 nurses were interviewed and 330 nurses were surveyed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Approval of the study was obtained from the hospital ethics committee. Permission to conduct the study was obtained from the director of nursing. Participants were assured that their participation is voluntary.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Physical restraint was commonly used to protect patients' safety. Naturally, intensive care unit nurses used physical restraint much more frequently than general medical/surgical ward nurses (p < 0.01). In addition, night shift nurses tended to use physical restraint more frequently.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nursing managers should be aware of the role nurses play in the use of physical restraint. In-service training regarding the proper use of physical restraint should be strengthened and nurse staffing levels should be improved in order to minimize the use of physical restraint in China.
authors.affiliation: Tongji University School of Medicine, China jianghuitest@163.com.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Shanghai University, China.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Tongji University School of Medicine, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Tongji University School of Medicine, China.
authors.forename: Yanan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002681:China; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D057184:Practice Patterns, Nurses'; D012149:Restraint, Physical / Q000941:ethics*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: China; hospital; nursing management; nursing practice; physical restraint