Nursing attitudes and perceptions on restraint practices in Italian mental health settings

Abstract

Abstract An observational, cross sectional, on-line study was carried out on nurses employed in mental health facilities in order to analyze psychiatric nursing attitudes and believes on restraint nursing approaches. 268 psychiatric nurses were enrolled in this study. The data reported that most of the participants had over six years of work experience in mental health and 80% received training on physical restraint during their nursing degree, mostly in the post-base update. Conflicting opinions with respect to physical constraints as safe tools to prevent skin lesions, and to the risks associated with this practice, were revealed. Implementing educational programs for healthcare personnel seemed imperative, focusing on equipping them with strategies to minimize the use of restraint and to effectively adapt to the anticipated transformations in contemporary psychiatry.