Effects of a Regulatory Protocol for Mechanical Restraint and Coercion in a Spanish Psychiatric Ward
Jose Guzman-Parra DClinPsy Clinical Psychologist, PhD Student, Juan A. Garcia-Sanchez RN Psychiatric Nurse, Isabel Pino-Benitez RN Psychiatric Nurse, Mercedes Alba-Vallejo MD Psychiatrist andFermin Mayoral-Cleries PhD Psychiatrist
Perspectives in Psychiatric Care
October 26, 2014
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ppc.12090/abstract
Purpose
There is still limited information on what type of measures are most efficient to reduce coercion. The aim of this study was to determine if the introduction of a new regulatory protocol in a specific psychiatric ward in Andalusia (Spain) contributed to reducing the use of mechanical restraint.
Design and Methods
The study included a comparison of two time periods: 2005 (one year before the implementation of the new regulatory protocol) and 2012, in all hospitalized patients (N = 1,094). The study also analyzes with logistic regression the variables related to a shorter duration of mechanical restraint.
Findings
Mechanical restraint rate per year was reduced, not significantly, from 18.2% to 15.1%. The average duration of each mechanical restraint episode was significantly reduced from 27.91 to 15.33 hr. The following variables have been associated with a shorter period of coercion: being female and the year of restraint (2012).
Practice Implications
Specific plans are required, including different interventions, in order to achieve marked reduction in the use of coercive measures.