The use of restraints in critical care

A restraint is any physical or chemical measure used to limit activity or to control an individual's behaviour. Restraints may include locked rooms, locked chairs, mummy bags, jackets, vests, wristlets, anklets, belts, mitts, joint splints, or pharmacological agents. Clinical experience indicates that there is a high prevalence of restraint use in critical care areas. The use of restraints has become an important issue for health care professionals and is just beginning to be considered by critical care nurses. This article is intended to provide Canadian critical care nurses with a summary of the literature related to the use of restraints.