ABSTRACT
The use of restraints in nursing homes has been curtailed in the United States since the passage of the 1987 federal legislation regulating restraint practices. This study used focus groups with administrators and nursing staff in a skilled nursing facility to examine their views of restraints and perceptions of conditions in the nursing home environment that affect restraint use. Although respondents lacked a shared definition of a "restraint," they did identify contextual factors that in combination with resident characteristics produced situations in which restraint use was justified. Implications of these findings for staff education on restraint reduction are discussed.
Subject(s)
Attitude of Health Personnel , Nursing Homes , Restraint, Physical , Administrative Personnel , Aged , Allied Health Personnel , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Humans , Nursing Staff , PaternalismABSTRACT
Recruitment and retention of the older adult participant presents challenges. Unless the researcher is attuned to the physical, mental and psychosocial characteristics and issues unique to the older adult population, major problems may occur. When working with an older adult population, the researcher must be aware of the changes consistent with normal aging often complicated by chronic disease states, as well as the special concerns of respondent burden, informed consent, transportation, negotiations with gatekeepers, physician involvement and common recruitment issues. Recruitment and retention must be addressed by researchers in the proposal stage of the research protocol. Techniques are available to overcome the barriers.
