The authors describe a program
to reduce the use of physical restraint
on three psychiatric units
of a university hospital. One component
of the program involved
interviewing patients to determine
their stress triggers and
personal crisis management
strategies. The second consisted
of training staff members in crisis
deescalation and nonviolent intervention.
During the first two
quarters after implementation of
the program, physical restraint
rates declined significantly and
remained low on all three units
for the remainder of the year after
implementation. Hospitals
should consider instituting comprehensive
staff training that encourages
adaptive patient behaviors
and nonviolent staff intervention
to reduce the physical
and mechanical restraint of children
and adults in inpatient facilities.