Nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward physical restraint and seclusion in an inpatients’ psychiatric ward

ABSTRACT

The objective is to assess psychiatric nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding the use of physical restraints and seclusion in an inpatient psychiatric ward at Jeddah Psychiatric Hospital, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia. A descriptive correlation exploratory design was used with 37 nurses, selected conveniently. A self-administered structured questionnaire developed by Janelli, L. M., Kanski, G. W., Scherer, Y. K., & Neary, M. A. (1992. Physical restraints: Practice, attitudes/knowledge among nursing staff. Journal of Long Term Care Administration, 20(2), 22–25) was used. The respondents were 37 nurses, of whom 52.8% were male. Moderate knowledge and attitude with strong intent to use physical restraint were found among participants. There was no significant correlation between nurses’ practice, knowledge, and attitude scores. It was noted that 33.3% of the respondents preferred using both restraints and seclusion. The male gender was correlated with the use of physical restraints r = −.341, while use of seclusion had positive significant correlation with nurses’ level of education r = .465, and negative correlation with other demographic background. This study shows that nurses’ inadequate level of knowledge on the physical and psychological effects of restraints and seclusion impact their performance and attitude in caring with psychiatric patients. Therefore, an in-service training program on procedure, indication, and negative consequences of restraints and seclusion is highly suggested to limit the frequency of restraint and seclusion use among psychiatric patients.

KEYWORDS:

• Restraint
• seclusion
• nurses’ knowledge
• attitudes
• psychiatric patients

Notes on contributors

Dr. Amal Ibrahim Khalil, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and mental health nursing at the Menoufyia University in Shebin-alkom, Egypt. Currently she works in the King Saud bin Abdul-Aziz University for Health Sciences, College of Nursing, Jeddah, where she was awarded many times for her teaching activities, community and social contributions. She was nominated as a reviewer to the Journal of Horizon Research Publishing, USA, and International Journal of Nursing and Clinical Practices. Dr. Khalil has many publications and has presented many researches both national and international. In addition to teaching and research, she had worked as a psychotherapist at a private practice and has membership in APNA (American Psychiatric Nurse Association), family and child safety program related to National Guard health affairs, Saudi Arabia, and KAFA institution for smoking and addiction management.

Manal Ali Mohammad Al Ghamdi is a certified Nurse from the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties. She was born in Saudi Arabia, Jeddah, on 18 October 1993. She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from King Saud bin Abdul-Aziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah. She also completed 1 year internship training of working in the National Guard Hospital rotating through all the major specialties including an elective of 4 months at the Neonatal Intensive Care unit.

Recently, Manal has been responsible for medical services in a French multinational pharmaceutical company at King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), covering occupational health issues with all aspects of health and safety in the workplace and a strong focus on primary prevention of hazards.

Sarah Al Malki is a certified nurse. She was born in Saudi Arabia, Jeddah, on 27 /10/1993. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from King Saud bin Abdul-Aziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah. She is married and currently living in Canada.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by no funder.