Background: Legislation, guidelines and accreditation standards cal for the minimization of physical restraints, yet their use remains common in intensive care units (ICUs) both in Canada and internationally. In Canada, physical restraints are prescribed by physicians. However, assessment of their need, application, and removal are primarily the responsibility of ICU nurses.
Objectives: We sought to describe Canadian ICU nurses' decision-making and practices of physical restraint application and discontinuation, as well as alternative measures attempted prior to their use for critically ill adults.
Methods: We conducted a prospective, observational study in two medical-surgical ICUs (tertiary academic and large community teaching hospital) of physical restraint use.
Results: We collected physical restraint data from the medical records of 141 patients from October 2011 to September 2012. Most restrained patients were mechanically ventilated (n = 118, 84%). Of the 247 reasons for restraint application identified for these 141 patients, agitation (n = 107, 43%), restlessness (n = 42, 17%) and use as a precautionary measure (n = 42, 17%) were the most commonly documented. Of the 167 behaviours observed and documented by nurses as indicative of agitation, pulling at the endotracheal tube or other lines/tubes (n = 111, 66%) was most commonly cited. Nurses documented the use of various strategies as an alternative to physical rest raint prior to their use for 46 (33%) patients. Of the 96 alternative strategies attempted, communication comprising reorientation and reminders was the most frequently documented (n = 26, 27%). Nurses reported having considered removing restraints during their shift for 61 (43%) patients. The criterion most commonly deemed essential for restraint removal was a calm patient (51 of the 104 reasons listed, 49%).
Conclusions: Our study suggests that patient behaviour indicative of agitation was the most common reason for physical restraint application. Use as a precautionary measure and in situations where nurses' ability to be present at the bedside was reduced, as well as the limited use of alternative measures prior to physical restraint suggest restraint minimization may not be optimal.