Changes in Attitudes Toward Restraints Among Nursing Home Staff and Residents' Families Following Restraint Reduction

Abstract

Changes in attitudes toward using physical restraints, and the benefits of restraint elimination were examined by interviewing 161 staff and 153 family members of residents in four long-term care facilities before and afterformal restraint reduction programs were instituted. The four sites were divided into two groups: one group was composed of two sites that had initiated restraint reduction prior to this study, while the other group initiated restraint reduction as a result of this study. Both groups experienced statistically significant declines in restraint prevalence rates from pre- to posttest. Although both staff and families cited fewer reasons for using restraints from pre- to posttest, staff along with families of previously restrained residents, did not perceive increased benefits to residents or their relatives following restraint reduction. Restraint reduc tion, therefore, could lead to an acceptance of nursing practices that emphasize dignity even without an accompanying perception of improvement in relatives' or residents'daily lives.