Wednesday, July 21, 2004: 3:00 PM-4:30 PM | |||
The Use of Physical Restraints in the Care for the Elderly | |||
| Learning Objective #1: Describe the role of nurses in decision making regarding the use of physical restraints (in different countries) | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Summarize the main effects of restraint use on the elderly and think of alternative (more humane) interventions | |||
| The use of physical restraints in older residents is a common procedure in nursing homes. Physical restraint is defined as any limitation on an individual’s freedom of movement by using a 'geriatric' chair with table, belts tied to a chair or a bed and bed rails. In the literature different characteristics of residents have been related to the use of physical restraints, including poor health status, poor physical status, severe impairment in activities of daily living (ADL), impaired cognitive status, presence of depression and wandering. However, the reason most commonly reported is to prevent falls and injuries. Not surprisingly, resident fall risk as judged by nurses appears to be an important predictor for the use of physical restraints! However, there is growing evidence that reducing their use does not result in an increase in the number of falls or injuries. It is, therefore, questionable whether the use of physical restraints is an adequate measure to prevent falls, especially in view of the negative somatic (e.g. pressure ulcers, incontinence) and psychological (e.g. aggressive behaviour, depression) impact that they may have on residents. Moreover, it has recently been reported that physical restraints in most older residents are used as a routine measure and that the use of restraints seems to be irreversible. Knowing that nurses play a key role in decision making regarding the use of restraints it is important to have a focused discussion group about research evidence and nurses’ experiences about the use of physical restraints and alternative interventions. | |||
| Organizer: | Jan P.H. Hamers, N/A | ||
| Author: | Jan P.H. Hamers, BSN, MSN, PhD | ||
Evidence-Based Nursing: Strategies for Improving Practice
Sigma Theta Tau International
July 21, 2004