The Current State of Perception of Physical Restraint in Elderly Care Settings

Based on a vignette survey of social welfare professionals

Abstract

A questionnaire survey was conducted on 693 social welfare professionals with the aim of examining how physical restraints are perceived in elderly care settings. (Valid response rate : 77.9%)

  As a result, four factors were extracted as actions considered to be physical restraint : “use of sensors,” “use of belly band, work gloves, and stomach band,” “locking and number locking,” and “response in front of the nursing station”. Significant correlations were found with years of experience, job title, and qualifications held.

  From this, it became clear that in considering physical restraint, social work practice that respects “the person’s character” requires (1) unity of perceptions about people with dementia and (2) opportunities to share ideas among professionals.