Cross-sectional Study of Physical Restraint Use in an Emergency Department

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Physical restraint may be more frequently done in the emergency departments (ED). The purpose of this study was to identify the frequency, method, and the complication of physical restraint use in an ED. METHOD: All restrained patients in the Chungnam National University Hospital ED were prospectively enrolled from April to December 2004. They were restrained on a bed in the supine position by using an elastic and a cotton band. A restraint checklist was completed by the emergency physician on all patients who were restrained in the ED. RESULT: One hundred thirty-six patients were restrained (0.56% of the total ED visits). The mean age was 55.4+/-18.9 years(range 4~95). Ninety-two patients(67.6%) were men. Most patients were restrained for confusion(53.7%) and agitation(40.4%), and the most patients(87.5%) were restrained for less than 24 hours. Thirty-seven patients (27.2%) had chemical restraint in addition to physical restraint. Medical records about restraint were absent in 86% of the cases. Four patients(2.9%) developed complications such as increased agitation(3) and untied restraint (1). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated low incidences of restraint-related complications and of documentation of restraint events, therapeutic manual for ED restraint is required.