[The use of physical restraint in dementia]

This paper reviews the current status of habits regarding physical restraint use with the demented patients. The data was collected by observing the basic care of the demented patient in various types of institutions and by interviewing the nurses working on these wards (N = 52). The most common reasons for the use of restraints with the demented patient were protection of patient, management of basic nursing actions, the demented patient's characteristics and because of routine. Alternatives to restraints were reasoning, changes in the environment, increasing interaction between nurse and patient, bearing, taking into consideration patient's will in giving basic nursing care and all injuries can not be prevented.