Restraints in intensive care units--a mixed method study

The use of mechanical restraints is a controversial practice internationally but is common in South African Intensive Care Units (ICUs). Their use was studied in the ICUs of an academic, public hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Quantitative data were collected over two months by means of a checklist and analysed by means of descriptive statistics. The patients' length of stay, type of restraint used and duration thereof, the daily nurse patient ratios, as well as information regarding sedation and analgesia were detailed. Individual interviews with twenty medical and nursing ICU clinicians elicited their stated rationale for restraint, their experiences and perceptions of the practice and recommendations for restraint.

Of a total of 219 patients in the three ICUs, 106 (48.4%) were restrained. The average number of days restrained was nine with a range of days from 1 to 53 (in one case only). In only six cases were restraints other than wrist ties used. Forty seven of the restrained patients had sedation and analgesic medication prescribed and 59 not. All participants conceded a place for physical restraint in the ICU, primarily to ensure the safety of patients but were divided as to the reason for restraining patients and disputed the benefits of restraint.

Poor communication between the team, patients and families and diminished collaboration within the multi-disciplinary team emerged as central concepts in this study and influenced care decisions and practises regarding the use of mechanical restraints in the clinical area.