Analysis of a nurses' knowledge survey on the use of physical restraint in intensive care units

To determine nurses' knowledge level regarding physical restraint use in intensive care units and its associated factors.

A cross-sectional multicentre study was carried out in 12 critical care units of 8 hospitals in Spain (n=354 nurses). An 'ad-hoc' knowledge survey was developed, and their content was validated by experts. The survey obtained a test-retest stability of ICC=.71 (95% CI: .57-.81) in a previous pilot study. A final 8-item tool was designed. Sociodemographic and professional variables from the participants were collected; as well as structural and clinical variables from the units analyzed. A descriptive and association analysis between variables was performed. A p-value <.05 was deemed statistically significant.

Two hundred and fifty nurses answered the survey (70.62%). Mean age of the participants was 36.80 (SD 9.54) with 10.75 (SD 8.38) years of professional experience in critical care. Seventy-three point six percent had never received previous training about physical restraints. Knowledge mean value was 4.21 (SD 1.39) (range 0-8). Knowledge level was associated with the referral hospital (p<.001). Nurses with a higher knowledge level are more likely to work in units with informed consent sheets for physical restraint use (p<.001); flexible family visiting (p<.001); analgo-sedation protocol (p=.011), and units in which nurses had autonomy to manage analgo-sedation (p<.001). Individual sociodemographic and professional data was not associated with knowledge level.

Further training regarding physical restraint use is needed for critical care nurses. The work environment where nursing care is given has a great influence on nurses' knowledge level about this intervention.