A Literature Review of Nursing Management on Reducing Physical Restraint in Acute Hospitals

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to review nursing management literature on reducing physical restraint in acute hospitals and clarify recent trends and issues in the future. The databases, which were searched on January 5, 2020, include; PubMed, CINAHL with Full Text, the Cochrane library, and Japan Medical Abstracts Society. A total of 190 studies were identified in the search, although only 15 studies (seven in Japanese and eight in English), published between 2000 and 2019, that met the inclusion criteria were selected. Intention of nursing management practice under factors of physical restraint included ethics, older people, falls, delirium, quality of cure and care, short of manpower, dementia. The main contents of nursing management practice were: 1) setting goals and judge criteria; 2) clarification of issues; 3) sharing problem recognition; 4) reviewing and constructing system; 5) security assurance; 6) providing educational opportunities; 7) launching and operating teams; 8) promoting cooperation; 9) motivation; and, 10) evaluating trial. The non-randomized controlled trial was found to reduce time and the rate of physical restraint while improving knowledge and attitude. Future studies need to indicate common nursing management evaluation items or indicator to consider reducing physical restraint for any acute hospital in spite of difference in hospital size.