Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 13, 2026
Assessment of Physical Activity Intensity with Accelerometers and Oxygen Consumption
Published on: June 20, 2025
Physical restraints in intensive care-An integrative review
Dawn Perez1, Kath Peters2, Lesley Wilkes3
1School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia.
Background:
Physical restraints (PRs) are commonly used in intensive care units (ICUs) worldwide for the prevention of treatment interference. While PRs are fundamentally used to maintain patient safety, they can negatively impact the experiences of patients and their families and cause moral and ethical dilemmas for ICU nurses.
Objectives:
The aim of this integrative review was to explore the current literature on the use of PR in intensive care.
Methods:
This article used an integrative review framework to explore the current literature available on the experiences of PR in ICU. Research published between January 2007 and July 2016 was considered. Databases searched included CINAHL, Proquest, Medline, PubMed, and Cochrane. Inclusion/exclusion criteria were used to screen for eligibility. Methodological quality was evaluated using a quality assessment checklist, adapted from Walsh and Downe, and based on the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool. The findings were analysed and synthesised into major themes.
Results:
Seventeen articles from Europe, Asia, and the United States of America were included. Five major themes emerged: (i) prevention of treatment interference; (ii) nurses' role as primary decision-makers PR application and removal; (iii) adherence to PR protocols; (iv) moral and ethical dilemmas faced by nurses; and (v) experiences of patients and families. The literature identified the prevalence of PR in today's ICUs, the drawbacks of current practice, and the paucity of knowledge of the lived experiences of PR.
Conclusion:
PR is the first choice in preventing of treatment interference, and most clinicians believe there is a valid place for them in ICU. However, its effectiveness in preventing self-extubation is questionable, and there are obvious flaws within this practice including inconsistencies surrounding PR protocols and the shortage of education and training provided to nurses. Further research into lived experiences of PR to gain deeper insights may lead to possible solutions and improve current practice.
More Related Videos
05:59Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity
Published on: March 7, 2019
10:38Observational Study Protocol for Repeated Clinical Examination and Critical Care Ultrasonography Within the Simple Intensive Care Studies
Published on: January 16, 2019
Related Concept Videos
01:10Review and Preview
Percentiles are a type of fractile that partition data into...
01:13Review and Preview
02:57Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter
00:58Sound Intensity
00:53Sound Intensity Level
The human ear can perceive an extensive range of sound intensity, necessitating the use of the logarithmic scale to define a physical quantity—the intensity level. It is a ratio of two intensities and...
01:21Interdisciplinary Care: The Health Care Team-I
Physicians
The physician's primary responsibility is to diagnose illness and direct the medical or surgical treatment of the condition. The authority to admit patients to a healthcare agency or institution and practice care within that setting is granted to physicians by the healthcare agency or institution...