Prevalence of and factors associated with physical restraint use in the intensive care unit: a multicenter prospective observational study in Japan

Moral Dilemmas Regarding Physical Restraints in Intensive Care Units: Understanding Autonomy, Beneficence, Non-Maleficence and Justice in the Use of Physical Restraints

In intensive care units, patients are often restrained to ensure their safety, with physical restraints being the most commonly used method. However, physical restraints compromises the patient's freedom, health and comfort, and nurses often face moral dilemmas when deciding whether to use physical restraints. This article examines physical restraints through the four universal principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice. Through these principles, the authors will critically explore whether the physical restraints of patients by nurses is ethical in practice and what moral issues exist. This paper also explores conflicts and moral dilemmas for nurses in this context. Finally, suggestions are made on changes to education and clinical practice.

Post-intensive care syndrome: Recent advances and future directions

Post-intensive care syndrome comprises physical, cognitive, and mental impairments in patients treated in an intensive care unit (ICU). It occurs either during the ICU stay or following ICU discharge and is related to the patients' long-term prognosis. The same concept also applies to pediatric patients, and it can greatly affect the mental status of family members. In the 10 years since post-intensive care syndrome was first proposed, research has greatly expanded. Here, we summarize the recent evidence on post-intensive care syndrome regarding its pathophysiology, epidemiology, assessment, risk factors, prevention, and treatments. We highlight new topics, future directions, and strategies to overcome post-intensive care syndrome among people treated in an ICU. Clinical and basic research are still needed to elucidate the mechanistic insights and to discover therapeutic targets and new interventions for post-intensive care syndrome.

Dynamic Nomogram for Subsyndromal Delirium in Adult Intensive Care Unit: A Prospective Cohort Study

Purpose

To develop a dynamic nomogram of subsyndromal delirium (SSD) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients and internally validate its efficacy in predicting SSD.

Patients and Methods

Patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria in the ICU of a tertiary hospital in Zhejiang from September 2021 to June 2022 were selected as the research objects. The patient data were randomly divided into the training set and validation set according to the ratio of 7:3. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and multivariate logistic regression were used to screen the predictors of SSD, and R software was used to construct a dynamic nomogram. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration band and decision curve were used to evaluate the discrimination, calibration and clinical effectiveness of the model.

Results

A total of 1000 eligible patients were included, including 700 in the training set and 300 in the validation set. Age, drinking history, C reactive protein level, APACHE II, indwelling urinary catheter, mechanical ventilation, cerebrovascular disease, respiratory failure, constraint, dexmedetomidine, and propofol were predictors of SSD in ICU patients. The ROC curve values of the training set was 0.902 (95% confidence interval: 0.879-0.925), the best cutoff value was 0.264, the specificity was 78.4%, and the sensitivity was 88.0%. The ROC curve values of the validation set was 0.888 (95% confidence interval: 0.850-0.930), the best cutoff value was 0.543, the specificity was 94.9%, and the sensitivity was 70.9%. The calibration band showed good calibration in the training and validation set. Decision curve analysis showed that the net benefit in the model was significantly high.

Conclusion

The dynamic nomogram has good predictive performance, so it is a precise and effective tool for medical staff to predict and manage SSD in the early stage.

Prevalence and Influencing Factors of Physical Restraints in Intensive Care Units: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Purpose

Physical restraints are used routinely in intensive care units (ICUs) and have negative effects. It is critical to identify the impact factors of physical restraints on critically ill patients. The present study investigated the prevalence of physical restraints and impact factors associated with their use in a large cohort of critically ill patients over one year.

Patients and Methods

A retrospective cohort study was performed in multiple ICUs at a tertiary hospital in China in 2019 using observational data from electronic medical records. The data consisted of demographics and clinical variables. Logistic regression was used to assess the independent impact factors for the use of physical restraint.

Results

The analysis consisted of 3776 critically ill patients with a prevalence of physical restraint use of 48.8%. The logistic regression analysis indicated that physical restraint use was associated with independent risk factors, including surgical ICU admission, pain, tracheal tube placement, and abdominal drainage tube placement. Physical restraint use was associated with independent protective factors, including male sex, light sedation, muscle strength, and ICU length of stay.

Conclusion

The prevalence of physical restraint use in critically ill patients was high. Tracheal tubes, surgical ICU, pain, abdominal drainage tubes, light sedation, and muscle strength were independent variables associated with the use of physical restraint. These results will assist health professionals in identifying high-risk physical restraint patients based on their impact factors. Early removal of the tracheal tube and abdominal drainage tube, pain relief, light sedation, and improvements in muscle strength may help reduce the use of physical restraints.

A Nomogram for Predicting Physical Restraint of Patients in Intensive Care Unit

Background

Despite its ethical implications, physical restraint (PR) is widely used in the intensive care unit (ICU) to guarantee the safety of patients. This study investigated the frequency and risk factors of PR use for patients in the ICU to establish a predictive nomogram.

Methods

Clinical parameters of patients admitted to the ICU of Jiangsu Province Hospital from January 2021 to July 2021 were retrospectively collected. Independent risk factors of PR were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. The R software was used to establish the nomogram. Model performance was validated using the concordance-index (C-index) and calibration curves.

Results

The rate of PR use was 46.32% (233/503 patients). Age (B = 0.036, odds ratio [OR]: 1.037, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.022-1.052, P < 0.001), consciousness disorder (B = 0.770, OR: 2.159, 95% CI: 1.216-3.832, P=0.009), coma (B = -1.666, OR: 0.189, 95% CI: 0.101-0.353, P < 0.001), passive activity (B = 1.014, OR: 2.756, 95% CI: 1.644-4.618, P < 0.001), delirium (B = 0.993, OR: 2.699, 95% CI: 1.097-6.642, P=0.031), -3 < Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS) score <2 (B = 0.698, OR: 2.009, 95% CI: 1.026-3.935, P=0.042), RASS score ≥2 (B = 1.253, OR: 3.499, 95% CI: 1.126-10.875, P=0.030), and mechanical ventilation (B = 1.696, OR: 5.455, 95% CI: 2.804-10.611, P < 0.001) were identified as independent risk factors for PR in the ICU (P < 0.05) and included in the nomogram. The C-index was 0.830, and the calibration curve indicated good discriminatory ability and accuracy (mean absolute error: 0.026).

Conclusion

The prediction nomogram model of PR in ICU was established based on age, mobility, delirium, consciousness, RASS score, and mechanical ventilation. It showed good discrimination and accuracy. This nomogram may predict the probability of PR use in the ICU and guide nurses in developing precise interventions to reduce the rate of PR.

Quality appraisal of guidelines on physical restraints in intensive care units: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Guidelines concerning the use of physical restraints in medical facilities have been published and amended over the years. However, the quality and suitability of these guidelines have not been appraised.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to assess the suitability and quality of guidelines for the use of physical restraints in intensive care units with the AGREE-REX and AGREE Ⅱ instruments.

METHODS

A systematic search of electronic databases (e.g., EMBASE), cross-database search platforms (e.g., Clinical Key), guideline web portals (e.g., Guidelines International Network) and society websites (e.g., Society of Critical Care Medicine) was conducted from January 2011 to December 2020. The methodological quality was assessed using AGREE Ⅱ, and the recommendation quality and suitability were assessed using AGREE-REX instruments.

RESULTS

A total of eight guidelines were included. The criteria for overall quality and suitability of guidelines for the use of physical restraints were met by 50-72% and 59-76%, respectively. The "Values and Preferences" domain had the lowest score (38% ± 9%). The criteria for methodological quality of the guidelines were met by 50-83%. Two domains, "Applicability" and "Editorial Independence", achieved lower scores. There was a strong, positive correlation between the overall methodological quality of guidelines and the overall quality of recommendations (r = 0.968).

CONCLUSION

There is a potential feasibility of guideline adaptation for the management of physical restraints. In order to implement a physical restraint guideline, the following aspects should be considered: (i) minimize the use of physical restraints, (ii) analyze barriers and facilitators relative to the local context, (iii) consider any specifications, and (iv) modify recommendations to local situation or individual conditions of the patient.