Nursing perspectives on physical restraint in general hospitals: Survey of the Tokai region

Abstract

This study investigated the physical restraint of patients in general hospitals in four prefectures of the Tokai region, and sought to clarify methods for preventing the need for physical restraint from an ethical standpoint and methods for promoting early release from physical restraint. Methods: A survey was mailed to 447 general hospitals in the Tokai region (Shizuoka, Gifu, Aichi, and Mie prefectures), to be completed by nurses in charge of caring for patients. The survey included a request for the number of inpatients under physical restraint as of 12:00 pm on March 1, 2018. Results: Answers were returned from 42 institutions (9.3% recovery rate). The number of physically restrained patients was 552, of whom 33.0% were not diagnosed with dementia, delirium, nor mental disorder. For 55.1% of patients, physical restraint was continuously used from the date of admission to the date of the survey. Nurses made the decision to initiate physical restraint for 96.4% of patients. Discussion: To reduce the need for physical restraint in general hospitals and promote early release, it seems to be important to provide psychiatric knowledge for nurses.