Psychiatric Nurses' Perceptions about Physical Restraint; A Qualitative Study.

Area of Science:

• Psychiatric Nursing
• Patient Safety
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• Physical restraint has a long history in psychiatric care.
• It remains a common intervention despite ethical challenges.
• Limited research exists on physical restraint experiences in Iran.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore nurses' experiences with physical restraint in Iranian psychiatric wards.
• To understand the nuances of using restraint in mental healthcare settings.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving 14 nurses in Ahvaz, Iran (2011-2012).
• Purposive sampling and semi-structured interviews until data saturation.
• Inductive content analysis for data interpretation.

Main Results:

• Restraint is perceived as a multi-purpose procedure.
• The study identified distinct phases in the processing of physical restraint.
• Restraint is viewed as a challenging aspect of psychiatric nursing.
• The multifaceted effects of restraint on patients were explored.

Conclusions:

• Nurses utilize physical restraint as a primary strategy for managing psychiatric patients.
• Despite recognized negative consequences, its use is widespread.
• Nursing education must prioritize developing and teaching alternative interventions to mitigate risks associated with restraint.