Nurses opinion regarding physical restrains for psychiatric patients: a comparative study

ABSTRACT

The study was carried out in three hospitals in three different countries Riyadh Mental Health Hospital [Saudi Arabia], Psychological Medicine Hospital [Kuwait] and El-Nabawy El-Mohandes Hospital [Alexandria, Egypt]. The total sample comprised 257 nurses. Data were collected through the use of a questionnaire developed by the investigators and guided by Heyman's [1987] instrument covering the following main broad areas reason for restraint, nurses' feelings when restraining patients and patients' feelings during restraint, time needed for restraint, the effect of restraint on patients, and possible changes in the use of restraint. Results revealed that uncontrolled behavior and aggression towards other persons, oneself and objects are the most common behavior leading to restraint in nurses' opinion. Also, restraint helps patient to calm down and behave better after its removal. The majority of nurses attributed more negative feelings to patients while restrained, as well as feeling guilty about restaining patients. Time needed for restraint as well as possible changes in the use of restraint varied among nurses