Binding the Elderly: A Prospective Study of the Use of Mechanical Restraints in an Acute Care Hospital

Abstract

Little information exists on the use of mechanical restraints among nonpsychiatric inpatients. This prospective study evaluates their use among consecutive medical and surgical admissions to an acute care hospital. Daily direct observation of patients and hospital record review provided data on potential predictors of restraint, reasons for their application, complications, and outcome. Cox regression analysis was used to calculate relative risk of restraint while adjusting for duration of hospitalization as well as other variables. Restraints were applied to 37 (17%) of the 222 study patients. Restrained patients were eight times more likely to die during hospitalization (24% v 3%; P < 0.01). Abnormal mental status exam, diagnosis of dementia, surgery, and presence of monitoring and support devices (e.g., intravenous lines) were statistically significant independent predictors of restraint. Mechanical restraint is a common occurrence among nonpsychiatric inpatients particularly those with impaired mentation, requirement for surgery, or intensive medical intervention. Identification of medical and surgical patients at risk for restraint may reduce the use of these devices by concentrating surveillance and prevention on this group.