Attitudes of Nursing Staff in Hospitals towards Restraint Use: A Cross-Sectional Study

Silvia Thomann, Gesche Gleichner, Sabine Hahn and Sandra Zwakhalen
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Silvia Thomann: Applied Research & Development in Nursing, School of Health Professions, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Murtenstrasse 10, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
Gesche Gleichner: Cardiovascular Center, Department of Cardiology, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
Sabine Hahn: Applied Research & Development in Nursing, School of Health Professions, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Murtenstrasse 10, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
Sandra Zwakhalen: Department of Health Services Research, Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, Duboisdomein 30, 6229 GT Maastricht, The Netherlands

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 12, 1-14

Abstract: The attitude of nursing staff towards restraint use can be decisive for whether restraints are used. So far, nursing staff’s attitudes have been studied primarily in long-term and mental health care settings, while findings from somatic acute care hospital settings are largely lacking. Therefore, we aimed to investigate (a) the attitudes of hospital nursing staff towards restraint use, and (b) the construct validity and reliability of a measurement instrument for use in hospital settings that was developed and validated in long-term care settings (Maastricht Attitude Questionnaire (MAQ)). Using a cross-sectional design, the attitudes of 180 nursing staff towards restraint use were assessed. The data were analysed descriptively and by means of regression analysis and factor analysis. We found that nursing staff in hospitals have a neutral attitude towards restraint use and that the MAQ, with minor adaptations, can be used in hospital settings, although further testing is recommended. Neutral attitudes of nursing staff have also been observed in long-term and mental health care settings, where changing attitudes were found to be challenging. Interventions at the national level (e.g., legal regulations) and management level (e.g., providing alternatives and changing institutional culture) are suggested.

Keywords: attitude; hospitals; nursing; restraint (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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