Evidence Base Practice

Evidence Base Practice

Volume 6, Issue 3, 2002

ISSN 1329 - 1874

BestPractice
Evidence Based Practice Information Sheets for Health Professionals

Physical Restraint - Part 1: Use in Acute and Residential Care Facilities
Introduction
The physical restraint of people during admission to acute and residential care facilities has been a common practice for many years. There is a growing concern regarding the use of these devices during health care delivery and for this reason The Joanna Briggs Institute conducted a systematic review to summarise current best evidence on this topic1. Due to the broad scope of this review, the findings have been summarised in two Best Practice Information Sheets also available electronically at www.joannabriggs.edu.au

This Information Sheet Covers the Following Concepts: • Current Practice • Characteristics of Restrained People • Reasons for Restraining People • Injury and Physical Restraint • The Experience of Restraint • Restraint Minimisation

Levels of Evidence
All studies were categorised according to the strength of the evidence based on the following revised classification system.2 Level I Evidence obtained from a systematic review of all relevant randomised controlled trials. Level II Evidence obtained from at least one properly designed randomised controlled trial. Level III.1 Evidence obtained from well designed pseudo-randomised controlled trials (alternate allocation or some other method). Level III.2 Evidence obtained from comparative studies with concurrent controls and allocation not randomised (cohort studies), case-control studies or interrupted time series with a control group. Level III.3 Evidence obtained from comparative studies with historical control, two or more single arm studies, or interrupted time series without a parallel control group. Level IV Evidence obtained from case series, either post-test or pre-test and post-test.

Part 1: Physical Restraint
The first Best Practice Information Sheet...