title: [Vision on and use of physical restraints and 'smart technology' in nursing homes in Flanders].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The STAFF-project investigates in what way 'smart technology' can offer an alternative for physical restraints in nursing homes. A survey is realized aimed at gaining more insight into the vision on and the use of physical restraints and 'smart technology'.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two partly overlapping structured questionnaires were developed and sent to nursing home staff in Flanders (Belgium). One hundred fifty six administrators (managers or assistant-managers) and 238 caregiving staff (nurses, nursing aids, paramedical staff and other) completed the online questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In general there is a low acceptability of physical restraint use, however, a more nuanced picture of acceptability is present depending on the specific motivation for using physical restraints and on the specific means of physical restraints. About half of the administrators say they use smart technology in the nursing home. The two main reasons for not applying (yet) smart technology are 'too high price for smart technology' and 'inadequate infrastructure of the nursing home'. All respondents underscore the importance of multiple strategies to diminish the use of physical restraints in nursing homes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physical restraint use is a complex theme and needs a nuanced analysis and management. This study shows that there is still room for improvement in diminishing the use of physical restraints and that nursing homes in Flanders are open to use smart technology.
authors.affiliation: LUCAS, Centrum voor Zorgonderzoek en Consultancy van de KU Leuven, Minderbroedersstraat 8 bus 5310, 3000, Leuven, België.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Carlassara
authors.affiliation: Cretecs, Expertisecentrum Zorgtechnologie van de VIVES Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen, Katholieke Hogeschool VIVES, Xaverianenstraat 10, 8200, Brugge, België.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lampo
authors.affiliation: Cretecs, Expertisecentrum Zorgtechnologie van de VIVES Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen, Katholieke Hogeschool VIVES, Xaverianenstraat 10, 8200, Brugge, België.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Degryse
authors.affiliation: LUCAS, Centrum voor Zorgonderzoek en Consultancy van de KU Leuven, Minderbroedersstraat 8 bus 5310, 3000, Leuven, België.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van Audenhove
authors.affiliation: LUCAS, Centrum voor Zorgonderzoek en Consultancy van de KU Leuven, Minderbroedersstraat 8 bus 5310, 3000, Leuven, België. Nele.Spruytte@kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Spruytte
mesh_terms: D001530:Belgium; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000523:psychology*; D012149:Restraint, Physical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013672:Technology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Bed-exit alarming systems; Nursing homes; Physical restraints; Smart technology