Reasons for physically restraining patients and residents: a systematic review and content analysis

Ethical reflections of healthcare staff on 'consentless measures' in somatic care: A qualitative study

BackgroundMany patients in medical wards lack decision-making capacity and cannot provide valid consent. As a result, nurses and other healthcare professionals often face a dilemma: whether to neglect the medical needs of such patients, or provide healthcare interventions without obtaining valid consent. Previous studies have indicated that many interventions are provided without consent; however, there is insufficient knowledge about how staff in this context reason about the ethical dilemmas they encounter.AimTo explore the ethical reasons provided by nurses and other healthcare professionals in medical wards for and against providing healthcare interventions without patients' consent.Research designThe study employed a qualitative explorative design. Eight focus group interviews were held with 37 staff across five different professions, mainly nurses, at two Swedish hospitals. The material was subjected to qualitative analysis, following a Reflective Thematic Analysis framework.Ethical considerationsEthical approval for this study was obtained from the Swedish Ethical Review Authority. All participants were informed orally and in writing about the study's aims and its voluntary nature. No sensitive personal information was registered. Participants provided their oral consent to participate before the interviews took place.Findings/ResultsThematic analysis resulted in four main themes: Coercion is a bad word; Reasons to accept coercion; Coercion is part of ward culture, and Unacceptable coercion.ConclusionsParticipants overwhelmingly supported the current use of 'consentless measures' at the investigated wards. Most situations described either needed no justification, according to participants, or could be easily justified by reference to the benefit of the patient, the patient's poor decision-making capacity, or the benefit of others. A range of implicit, contextual, and institutional justifications were also given. Suboptimal ward culture was considered a prime driver of consentless measures and a force that compromises nurses' agency in the patient encounter.

Disparities and Outcomes of Physical Restraint Use in Hepatic Encephalopathy: A National Inpatient Assessment

BACKGROUND

Physical restraints may be utilized in patients with hepatic encephalopathy with the intention to ensure patient safety.

AIMS

Determine if racial and socioeconomic disparities exist in restraint use for patients with hepatic encephalopathy and determine clinical efficacy of restraints in hepatic encephalopathy.

METHODS

We performed a cross-sectional retrospective study of hospitalizations for hepatic encephalopathy from 2016 to 2021 using the National Inpatient Sample. Patient race and income were assessed for associations with restraint use and restraints themselves were then assessed for associations with clinical outcomes including mortality. Separate analyses were performed for hospitalizations with and without invasive cares defined as the presence of ICD-10 codes for mechanical ventilation, gastric tube placement and/or central venous catheter placement.

RESULTS

Restraint use was documented in 2.4% of 228,430 hospitalizations. In hospitalizations without defined invasive cares, restraint use was increased in Black patients compared to White patients (aOR = 1.57, 95% CI 1.24-1.98, p < 0.001) while lower income was not independently associated with restraint use (1st vs. 4th quartile national income aOR = 0.98, p = 0.895). In hospitalizations that did not involve other defined invasive cares, physical restraint use was associated with higher mortality (aOR = 1.71, 95% CI 1.20-2.43, p = 0.003), whereas in hospitalizations where invasive cares were employed, physical restraint use was associated with reduced mortality (aOR = 0.55, 95% CI 0.40-0.77, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Careful consideration of the necessity of restraints in hepatic encephalopathy hospitalizations without other invasive cares appears warranted as social disparities in restraint use and increased mortality were both found in this group.

Informed Decision-Making with and for People with Dementia-Efficacy of the PRODECIDE Education Program for Legal Representatives: A Randomized Controlled Trial (PRODECIDE-RCT) and Process Evaluation

Legal representatives take a major role in healthcare decisions with and for people with dementia, but only a minority has a qualification in this field. The aim was to evaluate the efficacy of the PRODECIDE education program for legal representatives. In a prospective randomized controlled trial, legal representatives (volunteers and professionals, representing at least one person with dementia) were allocated (1:1 computer-generated block randomization) to the intervention (PRODECIDE education program) and control (standard care) groups. The primary outcome measure was knowledge, operationalized as the understanding of decision-making processes and in setting realistic expectations. Only data entry and analyses were blinded. A process evaluation in a mixed methods design was performed. We enrolled 218 legal representatives, and 216 were included in the primary analysis (intervention n = 109, control n = 107). The percentage of correct answers in the knowledge test post intervention was 69.0% in the intervention and 43.4% in the control group (difference 25.6%; CI 95%, 21.3 to 29.8; p < 0.001). In the comparison of professional and voluntary representatives, professionals had 13.6% (CI 95%, 8.0 to 19.2; p < 0.001) more correct answers. The PRODECIDE education program can improve the knowledge of legal representatives, an important prerequisite for evidence-based, informed decision-making.

Restraint in somatic healthcare: how should it be regulated?

Restraint is regularly used in somatic healthcare settings, and countries have chosen different paths to regulate restraint in somatic healthcare. One overarching problem when regulating restraint is to ensure that patients with reduced decision-making capacity receive the care they need and at the same time ensure that patients with a sufficient degree of decision-making capacity are not forced into care that they do not want. Here, arguments of justice, trust in the healthcare system, minimising harm and respecting autonomy are contrasted with different national regulations. We conclude that a regulation that incorporates an assessment of patients' decision-making capacity and considers the patient's best interests is preferable, in contrast to regulations based on psychiatric diagnoses or regulations where there are no legal possibilities to exercise restraint at all in somatic care.

Provincial policies affecting resident quality of life in Canadian residential long-term care

BACKGROUND

The precautions and restrictions imposed by the recent Covid-19 pandemic drew attention to the criticality of quality of care in long-term care facilities internationally, and in Canada. They also underscored the importance of residents' quality of life. In deference to the risk mitigation measures in Canadian long-term care settings during Covid-19, some person-centred, quality of life policies were paused, unused, or under-utilised. This study aimed to interrogate these existing but latent policies, to capture their potentiality in terms of positively influencing the quality of life of residents in long-term care in Canada.

METHODS

The study analysed policies related to quality of life of long-term care residents in four Canadian provinces (British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Nova Scotia). Three policy orientations were framed utilising a comparative approach: situational (environmental conditions), structural (organisational content), and temporal (developmental trajectories). 84 long term care policies were reviewed, relating to different policy jurisdictions, policy types, and quality of life domains.

RESULTS

Overall, the intersection of jurisdiction, policy types, and quality of life domains confirms that some policies, particularly safety, security and order, may be prioritised in different types of policy documents, and over other quality of life domains. Alternatively, the presence of a resident focused quality of life in many policies affirms the cultural shift towards greater person-centredness. These findings are both explicit and implicit, and mediated through the expression of individual policy excerpts.

CONCLUSION

The analysis provides substantive evidence of three key policy levers: situations-providing specific examples of resident focused quality of life policy overshadowing in each jurisdiction; structures-identifying which types of policy and quality of life expressions are more vulnerable to dominance by others; and trajectories-confirming the cultural shift towards more person-centredness in Canadian long-term care related policies over time. It also demonstrates and contextualises examples of policy slippage, differential policy weights, and cultural shifts across existing policies. When applied within a resident focused, quality of life lens, these policies can be leveraged to improve extant resource utilisation. Consequently, the study provides a timely, positive, forward-facing roadmap upon which to enhance and build policies that capitalise and enable person-centredness in the provision of long-term care in Canada.

Understanding nurses' justification of restraint in a neurosurgical setting: A qualitative interview study

BACKGROUND

Despite its negative impact on patients and nurses, the use of restraint in somatic health care continues in many settings. Understanding the reasons and justifications for the use of restraint among nurses is crucial in order to manage this challenge.

AIM

To understand nurses' justifications for restraint use in neurosurgical care.

RESEARCH DESIGN

A qualitative, descriptive design was used. Data were analysed with inductive qualitative content analysis.

PARTICIPANTS AND RESEARCH CONTEXT

Semi-structured interviews with 15 nurses working in three neurosurgical departments in Sweden.

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Approved by The Regional Ethics Committee, Stockholm, Sweden.

FINDINGS

The analysis resulted in three categories. The category Patient factors influencing restraint use describes patient factors that trigger restraint, such as a diminished decision-making competence, restlessness, and need for invasive devices. The category Specific reasons for justifying restraint describes reasons for restraining patients, such as restraint being used for the sake of the patient or for the sake of others. The category General reasoning in justifying restraint describes how nurses reason when using restraint, and the decision to use restraint was often based on a consequentialist approach where the nurses' weighed the pros and cons of different alternatives.

DISCUSSION

Nurses with experience of restraint use were engaged in a constant process of justifying and balancing different options and actions. Restraint was considered legitimate if the benefit exceeded the suffering, but decisions on which restraint measures to use and when to use them depended on the values of the individual nurse.

CONCLUSION

How nurses reason when justifying restraint, why they use restraint, and who they use restraint on must be considered when creating programs and guidelines to reduce the use of restraint and to ensure that when it is used it is used carefully, appropriately, and with respect.

A cross-sectional study examining the factors affecting nurses' knowledge, attitude, and behavior toward physical restraint use

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with nurses' intent to use physical restraint.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study used a questionnaire to survey 403 nurses from a hospital in northern Taiwan.

FINDINGS

Nurses who participated in a simulation training program had better knowledge and behavioral intent toward physical restraint use. Seniority and workplace significantly influenced the knowledge of physical restraint use, whereas workplace and clinical ladder level significantly shaped nurses' attitude toward it.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

The results showed that the simulated physical restraint training program was effective. The impact of nurses' workplace, seniority, and clinical ladder level on an educational intervention should be considered before formulating a plan to reduce physical restraint use.

Delirium and Anxiety Outcomes Related to Visiting Policy Changes in the Intensive Care Unit During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective

To evaluate the effect of intensive care unit (ICU) visit on the incidence of delirium, delirium subtype, and anxiety level in ICU patients.

Methods

Trained psychiatrists and nurses evaluated ICU patients for delirium, delirium subtypes, and anxiety. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to retrospectively analyze the data. Then, we compared the differences in the incidence of delirium, delirium subtypes, and anxiety level before and after the ICU visit ban. Logistic regression was conducted to identify the risk factors for delirium subtypes and high anxiety levels.

Results

After PSM, there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of delirium between the non-visiting and restrictive visiting groups (non-visiting 27.4% versus restrictive visiting 30.9%, p = 0.162). The proportion of hyperactive and mixed subtypes was higher in the non-visiting than in the restrictive visiting group (non-visiting 35.3 and 30.1% versus restrictive visiting 27.7 and 20.1%, p = 0.002). The anxiety level was higher in the non-visiting than in the restrictive visiting group (state-trait anxiety inventory score: non-visiting 53.46 ± 4.58 versus restrictive visiting 52.22 ± 6.50, p = 0.009). Patients who stayed in the ICU during the visit ban were more likely to have hyperactive (p = 0.005) and mixed subtype (p = 0.001) than those who did not. Moreover, patients who stayed in the ICU during the visit ban were more likely to experience high anxiety levels than those who did not (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Prohibition of ICU visits during COVID-19 pandemic did not affect the incidence of delirium during COVID-19 but could change the delirium subtype and raise anxiety level. Moreover, visiting prohibition was a risk factor for non-hypoactive delirium subtype and high anxiety levels. Therefore, ICU visits are important in dealing with delirium subtypes and anxiety in ICU patients.

Physical Restraint Use in Intensive Care Units: Exploring the Decision-Making Process and New Proposals. A Multimethod Study

Aim: The general aim of this study was to explore the decision-making process followed by Intensive Care Unit (ICU) health professionals with respect to physical restraint (PR) administration and management, along with the factors that influence it. Method: A qual-quant multimethod design was sequenced in two stages: an initial stage following a qualitative methodology; and second, quantitative with a predominant descriptive approach. The multicenter study was undertaken at 17 ICUs belonging to 11 public hospitals in the Madrid region (Spain) across the period 2015 through 2019. The qualitative stage was performed from an interpretative phenomenological perspective. A total of eight discussion groups (DG) were held, with the participation of 23 nurses, 12 patient care nursing assistants, and seven physicians. Intentional purposive sampling was carried out. DG were tape-recorded and transcribed. A thematic analysis of the latent content was performed. In the quantitative stage, we maintained a 96-h observation period at each ICU. Variables pertaining to general descriptive elements of each ICU, institutional pain-agitation/sedation-delirium (PAD) monitoring policies and elements linked to quality of PR use were recorded. A descriptive analysis was performed, and the relationship between the variables was analyzed. The level of significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Findings: A total of 1070 patients were observed, amounting to a median prevalence of PR use of 19.11% (min: 0%–max: 44.44%). The differences observed between ICUs could be explained by a difference in restraint conceptualization. The various actors involved jointly build up a health care culture and a conceptualization of the terms “safety-risk”, which determine decision-making about the use of restraints at each ICU. These shared meanings are the germ of beliefs, values, and rituals which, in this case, determine the greater or lesser use of restraints. There were different profiles of PR use among the units studied: preventive restraints versus “Zero” restraints. The differences corresponded to aspects such as: systematic use of tools for assessment of PAD; interpretation of patient behavior; the decision-making process, the significance attributed to patient safety and restraints; and the feelings generated by PR use. The restraint–free model requires an approach to safety from a holistic perspective, with the involvement of all team members and the family.

Association between the duration of physical restraint and pulmonary embolism in psychiatric patients: A nested case-control study using a Japanese nationwide database

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary embolism is the most life-threatening adverse event following physical restraint. However, little is known about the associaton between the duration of physical restraint and pulmonary embolism in psychiatric patients.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether more total days of physical restraint is associated with a higher risk of pulmonary embolism.

METHOD

This is a retrospective nested case-control study using a Japanese nationwide administrative inpatient database. We identified patients who were admitted to psychiatric departments from July 2010 to March 2017. One-to-four case-control matching was performed with patients with and without pulmonary embolism. We performed multivariable conditional logistic regression analyses to assess the odds ratios of total days of physical restraint regarding pulmonary embolism.

RESULTS

We identified 223,285 eligible psychiatric patients; 132 (0.059%) patients developed pulmonary embolism during hospitalization. Overall, 13.2% of the psychiatric patients experienced physical restraint for at least 1 day. More total days of physical restraint was significantly associated with a higher risk of pulmonary embolism.

CONCLUSIONS

Longer exposure to physical restraint may increase the risk of pulmonary embolism in psychiatric patients.

The outcomes of a person-centered, non-pharmacological intervention in reducing agitation in residents with dementia in Australian rural nursing homes

BACKGROUND

There is limited best- practice evidence to address behavioral and psychiatric symptoms for those with dementia in Australian rural nursing homes. This study aims to evaluate the outcomes of a person-centered, non-pharmacological dementia care model, 'Harmony in the Bush', based on the Progressively Lowered Stress Threshold principles and person-centered music in rural Australia.

METHODS

A quasi-experimental (nonrandomized, pre-post) intervention study was conducted in five rural nursing homes in Queensland and South Australia. Seventy-four residents with dementia participated in this intervention study, which yielded a sample power of 80%. Eighty-seven staff completed the Caregiver Stress Inventory at pre-post four-weeks of intervention. Staff training workshops focused on the theory of the Progressively Lowered Stress Threshold principles and delivery of person-centered care plan with integrated music intervention. We used reported changes in agitation of the residents, measured using Cohen- Mansfield Agitation Inventory, and staff's caregiving stress, using Caregivers Stress Inventory. This study adheres to the CONSORT guidelines.

RESULTS

Mean age of residents with dementia was 82.4 (7.7) years and 69% were females. The mean age of admission was 80.1(8.4) years. Baseline measures indicated that 32.7% had mild- severe pain and 30.5% reported mild-severe sadness. The results showed statistically significant decline in aggressive behaviors, physically non-aggressive behaviors, verbally agitated behavior and hiding and hoarding. There was similar reduction in staff stress in the domains of aggressive behaviors, inappropriate behaviors, resident safety, and resource deficiency.

CONCLUSIONS

The Harmony in the Bush model is effective in reducing agitation among dementia residents with significant reduction in staff stress levels in nursing homes in rural Australia.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) on 20/2/2018 (Registration No: ACTRN12618000263291p). https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=374458.

Quality and content analysis of clinical practice guidelines which include nonpharmacological interventions for knee osteoarthritis

RATIONALE, AIMS, AND OBJECTIVES

Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for knee osteoarthritis (OA) guide the provision of high-quality healthcare for people with knee OA, which may improve outcomes. Our aim was to evaluate the quality of and content within recently published CPGs for people with knee OA.

METHODS

CPGs (2014-2019) that described recommendations for nonpharmacological interventions for knee OA were included in the analysis. Two pairs of evaluators used the Appraisal of Guidelines Research and Evaluation II instrument (AGREE II) to assess the quality of guideline development. CPG content was reviewed and summarized for comparison.

RESULTS

Ten CPGs were identified for inclusion in the quality and content analysis (seven newly developed and three recently updated). Overall CPG scores ranged between 42% and 100%. Six CPGs were found to be high-quality. Exercise was the only intervention recommended by all CPGs that we appraised. Weight-management and education were the next most frequently recommended interventions. Inter-rater reliability scores were high in domain 1: scope and purpose, (P-value = .001, intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.90, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.62-0.98), domain 3: rigor of development (P-value = .000, ICC = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.80-0.99) and domain 5: applicability (P-value = .001, ICC = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.64-0.98).

CONCLUSION

Several CPGs have been developed or recently updated since 2014. Over half of the ten CPGs we appraised were deemed to be high-quality. Exercise, education, and weight-management advice are interventions that were most commonly recommended by CPGs.

Information Needs of Breast Cancer Patients: Theory-Generating Meta-Synthesis

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer has become one of the most frequently diagnosed carcinomas and the leading cause of cancer deaths. The substantial growth in the number of breast cancer patients has put great pressure on health services. Meanwhile, the information patients need has increased and become more complicated. Therefore, a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of their information needs is urgently needed to improve the quality of health care. However, previous studies related to the information needs of breast cancer patients have focused on different perspectives and have only contributed to individual results. A systematic review and synthesis of breast cancer patients' information needs is critical.

OBJECTIVE

This paper aims to systematically identify, evaluate, and synthesize existing primary qualitative research on the information needs of breast cancer patients.

METHODS

Web of Science, EBSCO, Scopus, ProQuest, PubMed, PsycINFO, The Cochrane Library, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature were searched on February 12 and July 9, 2019, to collect relevant studies. A Google Scholar search, interpersonal network recommendations, and reference chaining were also conducted. Eligible studies included qualitative or mixed-methods studies focusing on the information needs (across the cancer continuum) of breast cancer patients or their social networks. Subsequently, a Critical Appraisals Skills Programme checklist was used to assess the quality of included research. The results, findings, and discussions were extracted. Data analysis was guided by the theory-generating meta-synthesis and grounded theory approach.

RESULTS

Three themes, 19 categories, and 55 concepts emerged: (1) incentives (physical abnormality, inquiry from others, subjective norm, and problems during appointments); (2) types of information needs (prevention, etiology, diagnosis, clinical manifestation, treatment, prognosis, impact and resumption of normal life, scientific research, and social assistance); (3) moderating variables (attitudes, health literacy, demographic characteristics, disease status, as well as political and cultural environment). The studies revealed that the information needs of breast cancer patients were triggered by different incentives. Subsequently, the patients sought a variety of information among different stages of the cancer journey. Five types of variables were also found to moderate the formation of information needs.

CONCLUSIONS

This study contributes to a thorough model of information needs among breast cancer patients and provides practical suggestions for health and information professionals.

Factors Influencing Hospital Resilience

This study aims at investigating the influencing factors on hospital resilience. For this purpose, a systematic review of the literature was conducted. Six databases, including Web of Science, Scopus, SAGE, EBSCO, Google Scholar, and PubMed were searched for articles published between 2000 and 2018. Sixteen studies were selected based on inclusion/exclusion criteria. Content analysis revealed 22 influencing factors were included in a framework with 2 dimensions: (1) phases of the hospital resilience process (preparation, response, and recovery/growth) and (2) the key components of the hospital (staff, infrastructure, management, and logistics). Considering the factors that emerged from this research, suggestions were made to improve hospital resilience. The results of this research will enable a hospital manager to develop better plans for hospital preparedness, as well as perform more effectively before, during, and after disasters.

Reducing physical restraints by older adults in home care: development of an evidence-based guideline

Background

Restraint use is a complex and challenging issue in home care. Due to socio-demographic trends, worldwide home healthcare providers are faced with an increasing demand for restraint use from informal caregivers, patients and healthcare providers, resulting in the use of various types of restraints in home care. Awareness and knowledge of restraint use in home care, its implications and the ethical challenges surrounding it are of crucial importance to its reduction. This research aimed to describe the development process of an evidence-based practice guideline to support caregivers to optimize home care.

Method

The practice guideline was developed according to the framework of the Belgian Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine and AGREE II. The guideline was developed over several stages: (1) determination of the target population and scope, (2) literature search, (3) drafting and (4) validation. A multidisciplinary working group determined the proposed purpose, target group, and six clinical questions for the guideline. A consensus procedure and consultation by experts were used to develop the guideline.

Results

The guideline provides an answer to six clinical questions and contains ten key recommendations based on the classification of GRADE, with the objective of increasing healthcare providers’ awareness, knowledge and competence to adequately deal with situations or questions related to restraint use. The guideline also includes a flowchart for dealing with complex situations where the use of restraints is requested, already present or considered.

Conclusions

The guideline was validated by the Belgian Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. Increasing competence, awareness and knowledge related to restraint use are key objectives of the guideline for reducing restraint use in home care. A multicomponent intervention to support healthcare workers in implementing the guideline in clinical practice needs to be developed.

The Adverse Effects of Physical Restraint Use among Older Adult Patients Admitted to the Internal Medicine Wards: A Hospital-Based Retrospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the negative effect of physical restraint use on the hospital outcomes of older patients.

DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Internal medicine wards of a tertiary medical center in Taiwan.

PARTICIPANTS

Subjects aged 65 years and over who were admitted during April to Dec 2017 were recruited for study.

MEASUREMENTS

Demographic data, geriatric assessments (polypharmacy, visual impairment, hearing impairment, activities of daily living before and after admission, risk of pressure sores, change in consciousness level, mood condition, history of falls in the previous year, risk of malnutrition and pain) and hospital conditions (admission route, department of admission, length of hospital stay and mortality) were collected for analysis.

RESULTS

Overall, 4,352 participants (mean age 78.7±8.7 years, 60.2% = male) were enrolled and 8.3% had physical restraint. Results of multivariate logistic regression showed that subjects with physical restraints were at greater risk of functional decline (adjusted odds ratio 2.136, 95% confidence interval 1.322-3.451, p=0.002), longer hospital stays (adjusted odds ratio 5.360, 95% confidence interval 3.627-7.923, p<0.001) and mortality (adjusted odds ratio 4.472, 95% confidence interval 2.794-7.160, p<0.001) after adjustment for covariates.

CONCLUSION

The use of physical restraints during hospitalization increased the risk of adverse hospital outcomes, such as functional decline, longer length of hospital stay and mortality.

Freiheitseinschränkung aus Sicht der Interessenvertretungen von Pflegeheimbewohnerinnen und -bewohnern − eine qualitative Studie

Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: Freiheitseinschränkende Maßnahmen werden trotz fehlenden Belegs zum Nutzen und bekannter negativer Konsequenzen regelmäßig in Pflegeheimen eingesetzt. Neben Pflegenden können Angehörige, Betreuer / -innen, Vorsorgebevollmächtigte und Heimbeiräte als Interessenvertretungen der Bewohner / -innen den Einsatz der Maßnahmen beeinflussen. Ziel: Beschreibung der Sichtweise von Interessenvertretungen der Heimbewohner / -innen zur Anwendung und Reduktion von freiheitseinschränkenden Maßnahmen. Methodik: Für die Prozessevaluation einer pragmatischen cluster-randomisierten Studie wurden teilstrukturierte Einzel- (n = 4) und Fokusgruppeninterviews (n = 4) mit 22 Personen (vier Angehörige in der Rolle als Betreuer / -innen oder Vorsorgebevollmächtigte, eine Berufsbetreuerin, 16 Heimbeiräte) geführt und mittels qualitativer Inhaltsanalyse analysiert. Ergebnisse: Fünf Kategorien in Bezug auf freiheitseinschränkende Maßnahmen wurden gebildet: 1. Umgang im Setting Pflegeheim; 2. Bewertung der Anwendung bzw. Reduktion; 3. Information zur Anwendung bzw. Reduktion; 4. Entscheidungen zur Anwendung bzw. Reduktion; 5. Auswirkungen der Anwendung bzw. Reduktion. Interessenvertretungen sehen den Einsatz der Maßnahmen zur Sturzprophylaxe und Kontrolle von herausforderndem Verhalten als notwendig an und haben kaum Wissen zu Alternativen. Schlussfolgerungen: Angehörige, Berufsbetreuer / -innen und Heimbeiräte zeigen eher unkritische Haltungen und haben Informationsdefizite zu freiheitseinschränkenden Maßnahmen. Bei Interventionen zur Reduktion der Maßnahmen in Pflegeheimen könnte die Aufklärung dieser Gruppen unterstützend wirken.

Investigating influencing factors of physical restraint use in China intensive care units: A prospective, cross-sectional, observational study

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we characterised the use of physical restraints in three intensive care units (ICUs) in a general hospital in Nantong, China. Additionally, we explored risk factors potentially related to physical restraint use.

BACKGROUND

Despite their numerous harmful effects, physical restraints are frequently used in ICUs worldwide. Few studies have investigated the factors that contribute to physical restraint use in Chinese hospitals.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective, cross-sectional, observational study of 312 patients in three ICUs at a general hospital in China. The quantitative data were collected during a 5-month period using a physical restraint observation form and patient records. The data obtained were analysed using descriptive statistics. The independent risk factors for physical restraint use were assessed using a logistic regression model.

RESULTS

Of the 312 patients in the three ICUs, 191 (61.2%) were restrained, and physical restraints were used more than once for 46 (24.1%) patients during their ICU stay. The median length of physical restrain use was 20 shifts (interquartile range = 10-36 shifts). Physical restraints were applied in 6664 of 12374 (53.9%) nurse shifts. The most common time at which physical restraints were applied was the beginning of the evening shift. According to the forward stepwise logistic regression analysis, delirium (P < 0.001), mechanical ventilation (P < 0.001), and age (P < 0.001) were independent risk factors for physical restraint use. The use of analgesics (P = 0.001) exerted an independent protective effect against physical restraint use.

CONCLUSIONS

The overall prevalence of physical restraint use in Chinese ICUs was higher than that reported in previous investigations. The patients' nursing notes lacked complete physical restraint records, reflecting a need for standard guidelines and policies for physical restraint use in hospital ICUs in China. In addition, in this study, we explored the risk factors related to physical restraint use and found that age, delirium, mechanical ventilation, and analgesic use are associated with physical restraint use.

How do care home staff understand, manage and respond to agitation in people with dementia? A qualitative study

OBJECTIVES

Little is known about how care home staff understand and respond to distress in residents living with dementia labelled as agitation. The aim of this study was to describe how care home staff understand and respond to agitation and the factors that determine how it is managed.

DESIGN

We conducted a qualitative thematic analysis.

SETTING

We recruited staff from six care homes in South East England including residential and nursing homes of differing sizes run by both the private and charity sector and located in urban and rural areas.

PARTICIPANTS

We interviewed 25 care home staff using purposive sampling to include staff of either sex, differing age, ethnicity, nationality and with different roles and experience.

RESULTS

We identified four overarching themes: (1) behaviours expressing unmet need; (2) staff emotional responses to agitation; (3) understanding the individual helps and (4) constraints on staff responses. Staff struggled with the paradox of trying to connect with the personhood of residents while seeing the person as separate to and, therefore, not responsible for their behaviours. Staff often felt powerless, frightened and overwhelmed, and their responses were constrained by care home structures, processes and a culture of fear and scrutiny.

CONCLUSIONS

Responding to agitation expressed by residents was not a linear process and staff faced tensions and dilemmas in deciding how to respond, especially when initial strategies were unsuccessful or when attempts to respond to residents' needs were inhibited by structural and procedural constraints in the care home. Future trials of psychosocial interventions should support staff to identify and respond to residents' unmet needs and include how staff can look after themselves.

A systematic review of team formulation in clinical psychology practice: Definition, implementation, and outcomes

PURPOSE

Team formulation is promoted by professional practice guidelines for clinical psychologists. However, it is unclear whether team formulation is understood/implemented in consistent ways - or whether there is outcome evidence to support the promotion of this practice. This systematic review aimed to (1) synthesize how team formulation practice is defined and implemented by practitioner psychologists and (2) analyse the range of team formulation outcomes in the peer-reviewed literature.

METHODS

Seven electronic bibliographic databases were searched in June 2016. Eleven articles met inclusion criteria and were quality assessed. Extracted data were synthesized using content analysis.

RESULTS

Descriptions of team formulation revealed three main forms of instantiation: (1) a structured, consultation approach; (2) semi-structured, reflective practice meetings; and (3) unstructured/informal sharing of ideas through routine interactions. Outcome evidence linked team formulation to a range of outcomes for staff teams and service users, including some negative outcomes. Quality appraisal identified significant issues with evaluation methods; such that, overall, outcomes were not well-supported.

CONCLUSIONS

There is weak evidence to support the claimed beneficial outcomes of team formulation in practice. There is a need for greater specification and standardization of 'team formulation' practices, to enable a clearer understanding of any relationships with outcomes and implications for best-practice implementations.

PRACTITIONER POINTS

Under the umbrella term of 'team formulation', three types of practice are reported: (1) highly structured consultation; (2) reflective practice meetings; and (3) informal sharing of ideas. Outcomes linked to team formulation, including some negative outcomes, were not well evidenced. Research using robust study designs is required to investigate the process and outcomes of team formulation practice.

Informed decision-making with and for people with dementia: Developing and pilot testing an education program for legal representatives (PRODECIDE)

Background

People living with dementia are often appointed a legal representative, to support and protect their ethical and legal rights to informed healthcare decisions. However, legal representatives usually have no qualifications in healthcare.

Objective

The aim of this study was to explore decision-making processes with participation of legal representatives and, resulting from this, to develop and pilot test an education program for legal representatives in Germany.

Methods

We conducted interviews with legal representatives and senior citizens about decision-making processes in healthcare, with special focus on percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, physical restraints, and prescription of antipsychotics for people with dementia. We generated a curriculum based on systematic literature searches and the results of these interviews. We tested the education program for comprehensibility, feasibility, usability, and acceptance.

Results

Personal interviews with voluntary ( n = 12) and professional ( n = 12) representatives, and senior citizens ( n = 14) were conducted. Preferences, attitudes, and wishes regarding percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, physical restraints, and antipsychotics, and the process of decision-making, were heterogeneous. A structural approach is lacking. The education program proxy-decison-making (PRODECIDE) comprises four modules: (A) decision-making processes and methods; (B–D) evidence-based knowledge about percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, physical restraints, and antipsychotics. We conducted eight trainings with 47 legal representatives. PRODECIDE was well accepted. Comprehensibility of contents and materials was rated high. The program seems feasible for implementation.

Conclusion

PRODECIDE seems suitable to improve the decision-making processes of legal representatives in Germany. Implementation will be appropriate if efficacy is proven; a randomized controlled trial is currently underway.

Informed decision-making with and for people with dementia - efficacy of the PRODECIDE education program for legal representatives: protocol of a randomized controlled trial (PRODECIDE-RCT)

BACKGROUND

In Germany, the guardianship system provides adults who are no longer able to handle their own affairs a court-appointed legal representative, for support without restriction of legal capacity. Although these representatives only rarely are qualified in healthcare, they nevertheless play decisive roles in the decision-making processes for people with dementia. Previously, we developed an education program (PRODECIDE) to address this shortcoming and tested it for feasibility. Typical, autonomy-restricting decisions in the care of people with dementia-namely, using percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) or physical restrains (PR), or the prescription of antipsychotic drugs (AP)-were the subject areas trained. The training course aims to enhance the competency of legal representatives in informed decision-making. In this study, we will evaluate the efficacy of the PRODECIDE education program.

METHODS

A randomized controlled trial with a six-month follow-up will be conducted to compare the PRODECIDE education program with standard care, enrolling legal representatives (N = 216). The education program lasts 10 h and comprises four modules: A, decision-making processes and methods; and B, C and D, evidence-based knowledge about PEG, PR and AP, respectively. The primary outcome measure is knowledge, which is operationalized as the understanding of decision-making processes in healthcare affairs and in setting realistic expectations about benefits and harms of PEG, PR and AP in people with dementia. Secondary outcomes are sufficient and sustainable knowledge and percentage of persons concerned affected by PEG, FEM or AP. A qualitative process evaluation will be performed. Additionally, to support implementation, a concept for translating the educational contents into e-learning modules will be developed.

DISCUSSION

The study results will show whether the efficacy of the education program could justify its implementation into the regular training curricula for legal representatives. Additionally, it will determine whether an e-learning course provides a valuable backup or even alternative learning strategy.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

TRN: ISRCTN17960111 , Date: 01/06/2017.

Physical restraint deaths in a 13-year national cohort of nursing home residents

Objective

this paper aims to investigate the nature and extent of physical restraint deaths reported to Coroners in Australia over a 13-year period.

Methods

the study comprised a retrospective cohort study of residents dwelling in accredited nursing homes in Australia whose deaths were reported to the Coroners between 1 July 2000 and 30 June 2013 and was attributed to physical restraint.

Results

five deaths in nursing home residents due to physical restraint were reported in Australia over a 13-year period. The median age of residents was 83 years; all residents had impaired mobility and had restraints applied for falls prevention. Neck compression and entrapment by the restraints was the mechanism of harm in all cases, resulting in restraint asphyxia and mechanical asphyxia, respectively.

Conclusions

this national study confirms that the use of physical restraint does cause fatalities, although rare. Further research is still needed to identify which alternatives strategies to restraint are most effective, and to examine the reporting system for physical restraint-related deaths.

Using a logic model to evaluate the Kids Together early education inclusion program for children with disabilities and additional needs

Despite clear evidence that learning and social opportunities for children with disabilities and special needs are more effective in inclusive not segregated settings, there are few known effective inclusion programs available to children with disabilities, their families or teachers in the early years within Australia. The Kids Together program was developed to support children with disabilities/additional needs aged 0-8 years attending mainstream early learning environments. Using a key worker transdisciplinary team model, the program aligns with the individualised package approach of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

AIM

This paper reports on the use of a logic model to underpin the process, outcomes and impact evaluation of the Kids Together program.

METHODS

The research team worked across 15 Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) centres and in home and community settings. A realist evaluation using mixed methods was undertaken to understand what works, for whom and in what contexts. The development of a logic model provided a structured way to explore how the program was implemented and achieved short, medium and long term outcomes within a complex community setting.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Kids Together was shown to be a highly effective and innovative model for supporting the inclusion of children with disabilities/additional needs in a range of environments central for early childhood learning and development. The use of a logic model provided a visual representation of the Kids Together model and its component parts and enabled a theory of change to be inferred, showing how a coordinated and collaborative approached can work across multiple environments.

Restraint Use in Older Adults Receiving Home Care

OBJECTIVES

To determine the prevalence, types, frequency, and duration of restraint use in older adults receiving home nursing care and to determine factors involved in the decision-making process for restraint use and application.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey of restraint use in older adults receiving home care completed by primary care nurses.

SETTING

Homes of older adults receiving care from a home nursing organization in Belgium.

PARTICIPANTS

Randomized sample of older adults receiving home care (N = 6,397; mean age 80.6; 66.8% female).

MEASUREMENTS

For each participant, nurses completed an investigator-constructed and -validated questionnaire collecting information demographic, clinical, and behavioral characteristics and aspects of restraint use. A broad definition of restraint was used that includes a range of restrictive actions.

RESULTS

Restraints were used in 24.7% of the participants, mostly on a daily basis (85%) and often for a long period (54.5%, 24 h/d). The most common reason for restraint use was safety (50.2%). Other reasons were that the individual wanted to remain at home longer, which necessitated the use of restraints (18.2%) and to provide respite for the informal caregiver (8.6%). The latter played an important role in the decision and application process. The physician was less involved in the process. In 64.5% of cases, there was no evaluation after restraint use was initiated.

CONCLUSION

Use of restraints is common in older adults receiving home care nursing in Belgium. These results contribute to a better understanding of the complexity of use of restraints in home care, a situation that may be even more complex than in nursing homes and acute hospital settings.

Approaches to better engage parent-child in health home-visiting programmes: A content analysis

Home visiting is an evidence-based strategy used to enhance child and family health outcomes. Such primary healthcare endeavours demand the full participation of individual and families. We conducted a review to identify approaches to planning, executing and assessing home-visiting health promotion interventions to determine how parents and children can be best engaged. A structured search (2000-2015) was undertaken using a defined search protocol. The quality of the papers was assessed using standard appraisal tools. Sixteen studies were retrieved. A content analysis of the findings sections of the papers was undertaken and guided by the eight phases of the PRECEDE-PROCEED health promotion planning framework. The analysis found that while all the PRECEDE assessment areas were represented no studies included all phases. Parents and children did not appear to be actively involved in undertaking the assessments and evaluation of the home-visiting health promotion programmes. The findings suggest that there is a need to develop a consistent home-visiting approach that includes comprehensive assessments in the planning phases and parent and child involvement at each step of programme development, implementation and evaluation. This approach enables the development of tailored and sustainable health promotion intervention in order to achieve optimal child health outcomes.

Cancer Survivors' Experience With Telehealth: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis

BACKGROUND

Net survival rates of cancer are increasing worldwide, placing a strain on health service provision. There is a drive to transfer the care of cancer survivors-individuals living with and beyond cancer-to the community and encourage them to play an active role in their own care. Telehealth, the use of technology in remote exchange of data and communication between patients and health care professionals (HCPs), is an important contributor to this evolving model of care. Telehealth interventions are "complex," and understanding patient experiences of them is important in evaluating their impact. However, a wider view of patient experience is lacking as qualitative studies detailing cancer survivor engagement with telehealth are yet to be synthesized.

OBJECTIVE

To systematically identify, appraise, and synthesize qualitative research evidence on the experiences of adult cancer survivors participating in telehealth interventions, to characterize the patient experience of telehealth interventions for this group.

METHODS

Medline (PubMed), PsychINFO, Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health Professionals (CINAHL), Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched on August 14, 2015, and March 8, 2016, for English-language papers published between 2006 and 2016. Inclusion criteria were as follows: adult cancer survivors aged 18 years and over, cancer diagnosis, experience of participating in a telehealth intervention (defined as remote communication or remote monitoring with an HCP delivered by telephone, Internet, or hand-held or mobile technology), and reporting qualitative data including verbatim quotes. An adapted Critical Appraisal Skill Programme (CASP) checklist for qualitative research was used to assess paper quality. The results section of each included article was coded line by line, and all papers underwent inductive analysis, involving comparison, reexamination, and grouping of codes to develop descriptive themes. Analytical themes were developed through an iterative process of reflection on, and interpretation of, the descriptive themes within and across studies.

RESULTS

Across the 22 included papers, 3 analytical themes emerged, each with 3 descriptive subthemes: (1) influence of telehealth on the disrupted lives of cancer survivors (convenience, independence, and burden); (2) personalized care across physical distance (time, space, and the human factor); and (3) remote reassurance-a safety net of health care professional connection (active connection, passive connection, and slipping through the net). Telehealth interventions represent a convenient approach, which can potentially minimize treatment burden and disruption to cancer survivors' lives. Telehealth interventions can facilitate an experience of personalized care and reassurance for those living with and beyond cancer; however, it is important to consider individual factors when tailoring interventions to ensure engagement promotes benefit rather than burden.

CONCLUSIONS

Telehealth interventions can provide cancer survivors with independence and reassurance. Future telehealth interventions need to be developed iteratively in collaboration with a broad range of cancer survivors to maximize engagement and benefit.

Use of physical restraint in hospital patients: A descriptive study in a tertiary hospital in South Africa

Background

The use of physical restraint in patient management is a common and emotive issue, and has legal and ethical dimensions.

Objective

To document the prevalence of physical restraint use, patient characteristics associated with physical restraint use, and nurses’ and doctors’ knowledge and perceptions towards the practice.

Methods

A cross-sectional study of 572 patients, of whom 132 were physically restrained, was conducted in acute wards of a tertiary hospital. Data were collected on the 132 physically restrained patients. Fifty-nine doctors and 159 nurses completed a specially constructed questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were derived and expressed as numbers and percentages.

Results

Prevalence of restraint use was 23% (132/572). The distribution in acute wards was: medical 54.5%; surgical 44.7%; maternity 0.8%; psychiatry none. Mean age (SD) of the restrained patients was 49 years (20.5); 53.8% were male. The commonest types of restraints used were bed rails 93% and wrist belts 12%. Restraints were used largely to protect medical devices and as protection from harm. Less than 15% of the nurses reported having received training and 36% of the doctors reported having received some guidance on the use of restraints. Only a minority of nurses and doctors knew of a hospital policy on restraint use. Documentation on the prescription and indication for the use of restraint was poor.

Conclusion

Prevalence of restraint use is high and poorly coordinated. A policy on the use of restraint and comprehensive guidelines should be developed to guide health care practitioners in the management of patients where restraint cannot be avoided.

Issues impacting on registered nurses providing care to older people in an acute care setting

The worldwide phenomenon of ageing populations in developed countries has led to an increased emphasis on how best to meet the healthcare needs of people aged 65 years and older. One area identified as requiring particular attention is the care provided to older people in acute settings. This paper reports on the findings of an exploratory qualitative study that investigated issues having an impact on registered nurses' ability to care for older people in a publicly funded teaching hospital in Australia. Issues identified pertain to the complexity of managing the healthcare needs of the older person with an acute illness; the acute care environment as being problematic for the older person, and maintaining continuity of care in an often fragmented and under-resourced healthcare system.

It is clear from the study findings that registered nurses in the acute setting play a central and pivotal role in the multidisciplinary team caring for older people with regard to the management and coordination of care as well as in the provision of direct care. However, tensions arise from the curative focus dominant in acute care settings, which privileges and resources technically focused acute care skills and does not place as high a priority on developing appropriate knowledge, attitudes and skills specific to the care of older people.

The findings provide a base from which to progress further research as well as a challenge to those working in acute settings to develop systems of care that maximise the role of the registered nurse in improving outcomes for hospitalised older people.

Is an unhealthy work environment in nursing home care for people with dementia associated with the prescription of psychotropic drugs and physical restraints?

BACKGROUND

Research showed that long-term care facilities differ widely in the use of psychotropic drugs and physical restraints. The aim of this study is to investigate whether characteristics of an unhealthy work environment in facilities for people with dementia are associated with more prescription of psychotropic drugs and physical restraints.

METHODS

Data were derived from the first wave (2008-2009) of a national monitoring study in the Netherlands. This paper used data on prescription of psychotropic drugs and physical restraints from 111 long-term care facilities, residing 4,796 residents. Survey data of a sample of 996 staff and 1,138 residents were considered. The number of residents with prescribed benzodiazepines and anti-psychotic drugs, and physical restraints were registered. Work environment was assessed using the Leiden Quality of Work Questionnaire (LQWQ).

RESULTS

Logistic regression analyses showed that more supervisor support was associated with less prescription of benzodiazepines. Coworker support was found to be related to less prescription of deep chairs. Job demands and decision authority were not found to be predictors of psychotropic drugs and physical restraints.

CONCLUSIONS

Staff's job characteristics were scarcely related to the prescription of psychotropic drugs and physical restraints. This finding indicates that in facilities with an unhealthy work environment for nursing staff, one is not more likely to prescribe drugs or restraints. Further longitudinal research is needed with special attention for multidisciplinary decision making - especially role of physician, staff's knowledge, philosophy of care and institutional policy to gain further insight into factors influencing the use of psychotropic drugs and restraints.

Development methods of guidelines and documents with recommendations on physical restraint reduction in nursing homes: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Physical restraint, e.g. bedrails or belts in beds or chairs, are commonly used in nursing homes. However, there have been reports of pronounced differences in the prevalence between different facilities. Guidelines or other documents with recommendations for clinical practice are one approach to overcome centre variation and improve the quality of care. Rigorous development methods are deemed to ensure the validity, clarity and clinical applicability of practice recommendations. This study aims at describing the development methods of documents offering recommendations on physical restraint reduction in geriatric long-term care.

METHODS

We performed a systematic search (February 2014) in electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Gerolit, Carelit), the World Wide Web (via google.de) and on the homepages of 34 international scientific or healthcare organisations, using various terms related to documents offering guidance for clinical practice and physical restraints. All German and English language documents with recommendations for clinical practice aimed at reducing physical restraints' in nursing homes were included. Documents targeting mental health or acute care settings were excluded. Two reviewers independently selected the documents and extracted data, using a self-developed and piloted data extraction form.

RESULTS

We identified 28 documents from Germany, USA, Australia, Switzerland, Canada and UK, published between 2002 and 2014. The documents were developed or published by governmental organisations, nursing or healthcare organisations, non-profit organisation, research institutions and private organisations. Two documents were developed mono-disciplinary (nursing) and eight documents interdisciplinary (including different healthcare professionals, lawyers or other stakeholders). In 18 documents the composition of the development group was not described. Two documents described the methods used for developing the recommendations. In both documents, the recommendations were based on a systematic literature search, critical appraisal of the evidence and developed in a consensus process. Materials or tools supporting the implementation were mentioned in 18 documents.

CONCLUSIONS

This review shows that most of the identified documents with recommendations to reduce physical restraints in nursing homes did not adhere to rigorous scientific development methods. Only two documents comprised a systematic literature search and critical appraisal. Guidance aimed to inform clinical practice should rely on transparent and evidence-based methodologically with sound developed recommendations.

Assisting allied health in performance evaluation: a systematic review

Background

Performance evaluation raises several challenges to allied health practitioners and there is no agreed approach to measuring or monitoring allied health service performance. The aim of this review was to examine the literature on performance evaluation in healthcare to assist in the establishment of a framework that can guide the measurement and evaluation of allied health clinical service performance. This review determined the core elements of a performance evaluation system, tools for evaluating performance, and barriers to the implementation of performance evaluation.

Methods

A systematic review of the literature was undertaken. Five electronic databases were used to search for relevant articles: MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsychInfo, and Academic Search Premier. Articles which focussed on any allied health performance evaluation or those which examined performance in health care in general were considered in the review. Content analysis was used to synthesise the findings from individual articles.

Results

A total of 37 articles were included in the review. The literature suggests there are core elements involved in performance evaluation which include prioritising clinical areas for measurement, setting goals, selecting performance measures, identifying sources of feedback, undertaking performance measurement, and reporting the results to relevant stakeholders. The literature describes performance evaluation as multi-dimensional, requiring information or data from more than one perspective to provide a rich assessment of performance. A range of tools or instruments are available to capture various perspectives and gather a comprehensive picture of health care quality.

Conclusions

Every allied health care delivery system has different performance needs and will therefore require different approaches. However, there are core processes that can be used as a framework to evaluate allied health performance. A careful examination of barriers to performance evaluation and subsequent tailoring of strategies to overcome these barriers should be undertaken to achieve the aims of performance evaluation. The findings of this review should inform the development of a standardised framework that can be used to measure and evaluate allied health performance. Future research should explore the utility and overall impact of such framework in allied health service delivery.

Ethical challenges in care for older patients who resist help

Background:

Situations where patients resist necessary help can be professionally and ethically challenging for health professionals, and the risk of paternalism, abuse and coercion are present.

Research question:

The purpose of this study was to examine ethical challenges in situations where the patient resists healthcare.

Research design:

The method used was clinical application research. Academic staff and clinical co-researchers collaborated in a hermeneutical process to shed light on situations and create a basis for new action.

Participants and research context:

Four research groups were established. Each group consisted of six to eight clinical co-researchers, all employees with different health profession backgrounds and from different parts of the municipal healthcare services, and two scientific researchers.

Ethical considerations:

The study was conducted in compliance with ethical guidelines and principles. Participants were informed that participation was voluntary and that confidentiality would be maintained. They signed a consent form.

Findings:

The findings showed that the situations where patients opposed help related to personal hygiene, detention in an institution and medication associated with dental treatment. The situations were perceived as demanding and emotionally stressful for the clinicians.

Discussion:

The situations can be described as everyday ethics and are more characterised by moral uncertainty and moral distress than by being classic ethical dilemmas.

Conclusion:

Norwegian legislation governing the use of force seems to provide decision guidance with the potential to reduce uncertainty and moral stress if the clinicians’ legal competence had been greater.

Contextual influences on nurses' decision-making in cases of physical restraint

BACKGROUND

In order to fully understand nurses' ethical decision-making in cases of physical restraint in acute older people care, contextual influences on the process of decision-making should be clarified.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

What is the influence of context on nurses' decision-making process in cases of physical restraint, and what is the impact of context on the prioritizing of ethical values when making a decision on physical restraint?

RESEARCH DESIGN

A qualitative descriptive study inspired by the Grounded Theory approach was carried out.

PARTICIPANTS AND RESEARCH CONTEXT

In total, 21 in-depth interviews were carried out with nurses working on acute geriatric wards in Flanders, Belgium.

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

The research protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, Leuven.

FINDINGS

Relationships with nursing colleagues and the patient's family form an inter-personal network. Nurses also point to the importance of the procedural-legal context as expressed in an institutional ethics policy and procedures, or through legal requirements concerning physical restraint. Furthermore, the architectural structure of a ward, the availability of materials and alternatives for restraint use can be decisive in nurses' decision-making. All interviewed nurses highlighted the unquestionable role of the practical context of care. Context can have a guiding, supportive, or decisive role in decision-making concerning the application of physical restraint.

DISCUSSION

The discussion focuses on the role of the inter-personal network of nurses on the process of decision-making.

CONCLUSION

An institutional ethics policy and a value-supportive care environment can support nurses in their challenge to take ethically sound decisions.

Staffing levels and the use of physical restraints in nursing homes: a multicenter study

There is an unclear relation between staffing levels and the use of physical restraints in nursing homes (NHs). A survey design was used in 570 older adults (median age = 86; 77.2% women), living on 23 wards within seven NHs. Restraint use was high (50% of residents, of which 80% were restrained on a daily basis). Multivariate analysis was conducted at the level of the individual wards. Neither staff intensity nor staff mix was a determinant of restraint use. Bathing dependency, transfer difficulties, risk for falls, frequent restlessness/agitation, and depression were independent predictors of restraint use. Patient characteristics have significant greater impact on physical restraint use than staffing levels. Therefore, improving knowledge and skills of NH staff to better deal with restlessness/agitation, mobility problems, and risk for falls is encouraged to decrease the use of physical restraints in NH residents.

Physical restraint use and older patients' length of hospital stay

In both acute care and residential care settings, physical restraints are frequently used in the management of patients, older people in particular. Recently, the negative outcomes of physical restraint use have often been reported, but very limited research effort has been made to examine whether such nursing practice have any adverse effects on patients' length of stay (LOS) in hospitals. The aim of this study was to examine the association between physical restraint use on older patients during hospitalization and their LOS. Medical records of 910 older patients aged 60 years and above admitted to one of the Hong Kong public hospitals in 2007 were randomly selected and recorded during July to September 2011. The recorded items included patients' general health status, physical and cognitive function, the use of physical restraints, and patients' LOS. Hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to analyze the data. The results indicated that older patients' general health status, physical, and cognitive function were important factors affecting their LOS. Independent of these factors, the physical restraint use was still significantly predictive of longer LOS, and these two blocks of variables together served as an effective model in predicting older patients' LOS in the hospital. Since physical restraint use has been found to be predictive of longer hospital stay, physical restraints should be used with more caution and the use of it should be reduced on older patients in the hospital caring setting. All relevant health care staff should be aware of the negative effects of physical restraint use and should reduce the use of it in hospital caring and nursing home settings.

Physical Restraint Usage at a Teaching Hospital

This mixed method study examines the prevalence of restraint usage; perception of nurses and doctors about the practice and whether they were trained to apply physical restraints. The physical restraint prevalence tools were used to observe 172 adult patients and conduct 47 chart audits in the medical-surgical wards and a psychiatric unit in November 2011. Focus group discussions with nurses and doctors were conducted. Quantitative data were analyzed using the SPSS and focus group discussions thematically analyzed. The prevalence of physical restraints between the medical-surgical wards was 75%. Nurses and medical doctors were not formally trained to apply restraint, and had learnt from peer observation. They expressed sadness, guilt, and fear when restraints are used and identified that inadequate institutional support existed. Restraint usage was high, and nurses and doctors experienced moral dilemma when they perceived that lack of formal training and inadequate institutional support may contribute to patient injury.

Posttraumatic growth as experienced by childhood cancer survivors and their families: a narrative synthesis of qualitative and quantitative research

Confronting with a life-threatening illness may serve as an opportunity for self-renewal and spiritual and personal growth. Posttraumatic growth refers to the experience of positive change resulting from the struggle and/or cognitive engagement with the existential challenges of life events. The more stressful a life situation is, the more potential it provides for personal growth. This article is a report of a narrative synthesis of empirical research reporting the positive effects of cancer perceived by the childhood cancer survivors and their families. A total of 35 studies included 20 quantitative, 12 qualitative, and 3 mixed studies (involving 2087 childhood cancer survivors, 1115 parents, and 159 healthy siblings). They were published between 1975 and 2010 and conducted in 9 countries. Five themes were identified: (1) meaning-making, (2) appreciation of life, (3) self-awareness, (4) closeness and family togetherness, and (5) a desire to pay back society. The findings suggest that illness becomes our best teacher to get to know ourselves at a deeper level and the world in a new dimension with new meaning. Working through an illness brings out our best, teaching us what life is all about.

Process evaluation of a multicomponent intervention program (EXBELT) to reduce belt restraints in nursing homes

OBJECTIVE

The current study describes the process evaluation of a multicomponent intervention program (Expelling Belts [EXBELT]) to reduce the use of belt restraints in psychogeriatric nursing homes. The aim was to assess the feasibility and ascertain suggestions for optimization of the EXBELT program.

DESIGN

A descriptive study comprising longitudinal elements.

SETTING

Fifteen psychogeriatric nursing home wards in 6 Dutch nursing homes.

PARTICIPANTS

The study population consisted of 4 different groups of participants who took part in the intervention arm of the quasi-experimental study examining the effectiveness of EXBELT: nursing home staff who attended the final session of the educational program; 2 nurse specialists who delivered the educational program and did the consultations; 4 groups of delegates representing the nursing home associations where the EXBELT program was implemented; and the relatives of those residents in the intervention group who were restrained with a belt at the start of the study.

MEASUREMENTS

Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected from the study population. Data were assessed by means of self-administered questionnaires, recording forms, group interviews, telephone interviews, and monthly meetings.

RESULTS

The EXBELT study was largely performed according to protocol and very well received by nursing home staff as well as resident's relatives. Suggestions to improve the EXBELT program include the addition of examples of how to communicate about the policy change, improving the reach of the intended target population, adding more case-based learning strategies, and embedding the available consultants more proactively.

CONCLUSIONS

The implementation of EXBELT was highly successful in the current research population and is likely to be feasible in psychogeriatric nursing homes in general.

Nursing staff views of barriers to physical restraint reduction in nursing homes

PURPOSE

There are few studies globally regarding the barriers to restraint-reduction. The purpose of this study was to describe the views of nursing staff (both nurses and geriatric care assistants) regarding the barriers to reducing physical restraint use in Korean nursing homes.

METHODS

Forty registered nurse and geriatric care assistant informants participated in the first round of interviews and 16 of them participated in second confirmatory interviews. All interviews were conducted on site, one-on-one and face-to-face, using semi-structured interview protocols. Qualitative descriptive method was used and qualitative content analysis was employed.

RESULTS

Six themes were identified: (a) being too busy, (b) lack of resources, (c) beliefs and concerns, (d) lack of education, (e) differences and inconsistencies, and (f) relationship issues.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study provide a valuable basis for developing restraint reduction education programs. Korean national leaders and nursing homes should develop and employ practice guidelines regarding restraints, support nursing staff to follow the guidelines, provide more practical and professional education, employ alternative equipment, use a multidisciplinary team approach, and engage volunteers in care support as well as employ more nursing staff to achieve restraint-free care.

Interventions for preventing and reducing the use of physical restraints in long-term geriatric care - a Cochrane review

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effectiveness of interventions to prevent and reduce the use of physical restraints in older people requiring long-term nursing care.

BACKGROUND

Physical restraints are commonly used in geriatric long-term care. However, they are associated with adverse outcomes. Therefore, freedom from physical restraints should be the aim of high-quality nursing care.

DESIGN

Systematic review of randomised controlled trials.

METHODS

This review followed the methods of the Cochrane Handbook of systematic reviews of interventions. The systematic search (September 2009) covered the Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group's Specialized Register, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and LILACS.

RESULTS

Six cluster-randomised controlled trials met the inclusion criteria. All studies investigated educational approaches targeting nursing staff. In addition, two studies offered consultation, two guidance and one support and free access to technical aids. Five studies examined nursing home residents and one study residents in group dwelling units. No studies in community settings were included. Overall, the methodological quality of studies was low. Their results were inconsistent. One study with good methodological quality in the nursing home setting documented an increase in physical restraints use in both groups, while the other four studies with lower quality found reduced use of physical restraints in the intervention group. The single study in group dwelling units found no change in physical restraints use in the intervention group but a significant increase in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

There is insufficient evidence supporting the effectiveness of educational interventions targeting nursing staff for preventing or reducing the use of physical restraints in geriatric long-term care. Relevance to clinical practice.  Our findings indicate that educational programmes targeting nursing staff might not be effective in reducing the use of physical restraints in geriatric long-term care. It remains unclear which components should be included in educational programmes aiming to reduce physical restraints.

Effect of physical restraint reduction on older patients' hospital length of stay

OBJECTIVES

Physical restraints are often used to prevent falls and to secure medical devices in older people in hospitals. Restraint reduction has been advocated on the grounds that physical restraints have negative psychological effects and are not effective in preventing falls. The potential effect of restraint reduction on length of hospital stay (LOS) has not been investigated. This study was undertaken to compare the average length of stay of older patients in a convalescent medical ward setting before and after a restraint reduction program.

DESIGN

This is a retrospective study.

SETTING

A convalescent hospital in Hong Kong.

PARTICIPANTS

This study included 2000 patient episodes.

MEASUREMENTS

The use of physical restraint, LOS, and clinical outcomes of randomly selected patient episodes in the year before and after the implementation of a restraint reduction program were compared. The clinical outcomes included Modified Functional Ambulatory Categories and modified Barthel index. Subgroup analysis was performed on those with confusion as defined by dementia diagnosis, low abbreviated mental test score, or abnormal mental domain of Norton Score.

RESULTS

A total of 958 and 988 patient episodes admitted to 10 medical wards in a convalescent hospital in 2007 and 2009 were examined. There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics of patients in the 2 years. With the implementation of the restraint reduction scheme, the rate of physical restraint use declined significantly from 13.3% in 2007 to 4.1% in 2009 for all patients. The average LOS of patients was significantly lower in the year after the implementation of restraint reduction (19.5 ± 20.7 versus 16.8 ± 13.4 days in 2007 and 2009 respectively, P < .001). On subgroup analysis, the reduction in LOS was significant in the cognitively impaired patients (23.0 ± 26.5 to 17.8 ± 15.0 days in 2007 and 2009 respectively, P < .001), but not in the cognitively normal patients. There were no significant differences between the 2 years in the incidence of fall, mobility, and activities of daily living on discharge.

CONCLUSION

Physical restraint reduction was associated with significant reduction in average length of stay in convalescent medical wards, especially in the cognitively impaired patients.

Physical restraint use in institutional care of old people in Sweden in 2000 and 2007

BACKGROUND

Physical restraint use is common in institutional care for old people and mainly used to prevent falls, despite the fall-preventive effect of physical restraints being questioned in previous research. The aim of the study was to investigate the use of physical restraints in Sweden in 2000 and 2007.

METHODS

Data were collected from two comparable census surveys conducted in all institutional care units for old people in 2000 (n = 3,669) and 2007 (n = 2,914). Information on residents' characteristics and physical restraint use was collected using the Multi-Dimensional Dementia Assessment Scale (MDDAS).

RESULTS

In 2000 16.0% (95% confidence interval (CI) 14.8%-17.2%) of the residents were restrained compared to 18.2% (95% CI 16.8%-19.6%) in 2007 (p = 0.017). Adjusting for residents' characteristics showed that residents in 2007 were more likely to be physically restrained, relative to the residents in 2000 (odds ratio (OR) 1.031, 95% CI 1.005-1.058, p = 0.017). In 2007 the residents had been restrained longer, and a higher proportion were restrained for unknown reasons.

CONCLUSIONS

Physical restraint use is still common. Moreover, the findings of this study suggest a small increase (OR 1.031) in the prevalence of physical restraint use from 2000 to 2007 adjusted for residents' characteristics.

A national survey of the use of physical restraint in long-term care hospitals in Japan

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To investigate the prevalence of physical restraints in the long-term care hospitals in Japan and to examine the factors of physical restraint use, including the specific skills/techniques that the staff use to minimise the restraints. Background.  Despite the national efforts to nullify physical restraint, it is still prevalent in long-term care facilities in and out of Japan. More detailed information regarding what affects physical restraint is needed.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional mail survey.

METHOD

A questionnaire was sent to a nursing ward manager of the random sample of long-term care facilities in Japan.

RESULTS

The average rate of physical restraint was 25·5%. Altogether, 81·0% of the restrained clients were under restraint for more than one month. The most prevalent method of restraint was bilateral bedrails, followed by the use of coveralls and gloves. Factors of restraint were different depending on the type of restraint, suggesting specific approaches are needed for specific type of restraint.

CONCLUSIONS

Physical restraint is still prevalent in Japanese long-term care hospitals, and nurses need to develop effective intervention approach to redesigning practice related to physical restraints. Specialised intervention approach seems needed depending on the types of restraint.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Specific approach should be developed to minimise the physical restraint in long-term care hospitals in Japan.