Study highlights the role of managers in minimising physical restraint use

Supportive managers can empower frontline staff and play a vital role in minimising the use of physical restraints on care home residents without increasing the risk of falls, a new Cochrane Review suggests.

Physical restraints are often used with an intention to prevent falls and fall-related injuries, but the benefits are usually small and come with important negative consequences, according to the study authors. For example, the restriction of movement can have negative implications on physical functioning and mobility, actually increasing the risk of falls and care dependency. The measures can also trigger or increase fear or aggressive behaviour. For this reason, guidelines and experts recommend avoiding physical restraints in residential care settings.

But how can this be implemented in practice? A Cochrane Review, first published in 2011 and recently updated to reflect the latest research, analyses the scientific evidence on interventions and strategies to reduce the use of restraints. The team of authors, led by Ralph Möhler of the University Hospital Düsseldorf, identified 11 studies with a total of 19,003 participants, evaluating different intervention approaches.

Organisational interventions to reduce the use of restraints consist of different components that function as a package — they aim to improve knowledge, skills and strategies to prevent restraint use among both frontline care staff and managers.

Designated ‘champions’

The authors found the best evidence for organisational interventions, which were investigated in four studies with a total of 17,954 participants. In three studies, employees designated as ‘champions’ were trained to develop and implement individual strategies to prevent the use of restraints within their facilities. Managers supported this, including by relieving them of other activities and providing them with sufficient time for their tasks. Such interventions probably reduce the number of residents with physical restraints in nursing homes by 14%, according to the authors.

There was no overall change in the number of residents with falls or fall-related injuries and there was no increase in the prescription of psychotropic medication. In addition, there was no evidence of adverse effects of the interventions. Based on the study data, the authors calculated that the number of residents with physical restraints could be reduced from 274 to 236 per 1000 individuals, if such interventions were implemented. Focusing on changes on the organisational level seems to be important for achieving long-term effects.

Study limitations

Six studies examined educational interventions addressing staff knowledge and attitudes regarding the use of restraints. The results of these studies were inconsistent and some of the studies had methodological limitations. Therefore, no clear conclusion on the effects of educational interventions can be drawn.

“The results of this review show that physical restraints in nursing homes can be reduced without increasing falls or fall-related injuries,” Möhler said. “There is no evidence in the reviewed studies that psychotropic medications were prescribed more often. However, education for frontline staff alone doesn’t seem to be enough; the support of care home managers plays a decisive role.”

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