Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2006 Mar;32(3):148-52.
doi: 10.1136/jme.2005.012708.

Use of physical restraint in nursing homes: clinical-ethical considerations

C Gastmans  1 , K Milisen
Affiliations

Use of physical restraint in nursing homes: clinical-ethical considerations

C Gastmans et al. J Med Ethics. 2006 Mar.

Abstract

This article gives a brief overview of the state of the art concerning physical restraint use among older persons in nursing homes. Within this context we identify some essential values and norms that must be observed in an ethical evaluation of physical restraint. These values and norms provide the ethical foundation for a number of concrete recommendations that could give clinical and ethical support to caregivers when they make decisions about physical restraint. Respect for the autonomy and overall wellbeing of older persons, a proportional assessment of the advantages and disadvantages, a priority focus on the alternatives to physical restraint, individualised care, interdisciplinary decision making, and an institutional policy are the central points that make it possible to deal responsibly with the use of physical restraint for older persons in nursing homes.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: none declared

References

    1. Retsas A P. Survey findings describing the use of physical restraints in nursing homes in Victoria, Australia. Int J Nurs Stud 199835184–191. - PubMed
    1. Gallinagh R, Slevin E, McCormack B. Side rails as physical restraints in the care of older people: a management issue. J Nurs Manage 200210299–306. - PubMed
    1. Ejaz F K, Jones J A, Rose M S. Falls among nursing home residents: an examination of incident reports before and after restraint reduction programs. J Am Geriatr Soc 199442960–964. - PubMed
    1. Evans L K, Strumpf N E. Tying down the elderly: a review of the literature on physical restraint. J Am Geriatr Soc 19893765–74. - PubMed
    1. Karlsson S, Bucht G, Eriksson S.et al Physical restraints in geriatric care in Sweden: prevalence and patient characteristics. J Am Geriatr Soc 1996441348–1354. - PubMed