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Is a No-Restraint Policy Associated with Increased Aggression Towards Healthcare Professionals Among Inpatient
Marco Colizzi1,2, Carla Comacchio1, Marco Garzitto1
1Unit of Psychiatry and Eating Disorders, Department of Medicine (DMED), University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy.
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to investigate aggression-related work accidents in an inpatient psychiatric unit before and after implementing a no-restraint policy in Italy. Results revealed that, over the study period (2007-2022), 113 accidents occurred, mostly related to physical aggression (81.4%), with healthcare assistants and psychiatric nurses being the most affected and more accidents occurring during the morning shift (49.6%). A transitory peak of accidents occurred during the policy transition (χ22 = 16.0, p < 0.001; V = 1.000), falling rapidly in the subsequent years. In conclusion, adopting a no-restraint policy is not associated with increased aggression toward staff in psychiatric healthcare in the longer term, although greater support is needed during the transition phase to minimize risks.
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