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54. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Medizinische Informatik, Biometrie und Epidemiologie e.V. (GMDS)

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Medizinische Informatik, Biometrie und Epidemiologie

07. bis 10.09.2009, Essen

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Attitudes of nursing home residents’ relatives towards physical restraints in Germany

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  • Herbert Mayer - University Witten/Herdecke, Institute of Nursing Science, Witten
  • Gabriele Bartoszek - University Witten/Herdecke, Institute of Nursing Science, Witten
  • Nina Kolbe - University Witten/Herdecke, Institute of Nursing Science, Witten
  • Steve Strupeit - University Bremen, Institute of Nursing Research, Bremen
  • Antonie Haut - University Witten/Herdecke, Institute of Nursing Science, Witten
  • Gabriele Meyer - University Witten/Herdecke, Institute of Nursing Science, Witten

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Medizinische Informatik, Biometrie und Epidemiologie. 54. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Medizinische Informatik, Biometrie und Epidemiologie (gmds). Essen, 07.-10.09.2009. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2009. Doc09gmds067

doi: 10.3205/09gmds067, urn:nbn:de:0183-09gmds0674

Published: September 2, 2009

© 2009 Mayer et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free: to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.

Outline

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Introduction: Attitudes of nursing home staff, residents and their relatives determine the decision making process about the use of physical restraints. Knowledge on staffs’ attitude towards physical restraints is sparse. Even less is known about relatives’ attitudes. We conducted a survey on relatives’ attitudes and compared the results with a recent survey on nurses’ attitudes.

Methods and materials: The German version of the validated “Maastricht Attitude Questionnaire” was used. Part I contains 22 items of three subscales (reasons, consequences, and appropriateness of restraints), part II contains 14 items evaluating restrictiveness and discomfort of restraint measures. For the survey in relatives the instrument’s wording was slightly adapted and piloted with 7 relatives. Data were collected by trained nurses in 13 nursing homes in 2008. The comparison group consists of nurses of 25 homes surveyed in 2007. Mean values and SD were calculated.

Results: A total of 195 questionnaires were distributed to relatives, 177 answered (91%). Mean age was 62 yrs (SD 12.6); 71% were female; 11% were partners, 71% son/daughter; 59% visited their relative 2-3 times a week. A total of 274 questionnaires were distributed to nurses, 258 (94%) answered. Mean age was 44 yrs (11.4); 82% were female; 54% were registered or practical nurses, 8% charge nurses. Relatives assess restraints slightly more positive compared to nurses with an average of 3.4 (0.6) vs. 3.1 (0.5) on a 5-point scale (5=strongly positive attitude). Relatives and staff both assess restrictiveness with 2.1 (0.3) points and discomfort of restraints with 2.1 (0.4) and 2.1 (0.3) on a 3-point scale (3=very restrictive/discomforting). Both groups consider wrist and ankle belts as measure with highest and sensor mats, infrared systems, and unilateral bedrails with lowest restrictiveness and discomfort.

Conclusion: Attitudes of nursing home residents’ relatives towards restraints are rather positive and comparable to nursing staffs attitudes.