Affiliation:
1. Praxis Area. Barcelona's Official College of Physicians Barcelona Spain
2. Chair of Legal Medicine and Professional Liabity and Clinical Safety Universitat de Barcelona Barcelona Spain
3. School of Medicine Universitat Internacional de Catalunya Barcelona Spain
4. Fundación Galatea, Clínica Galatea Barcelona Spain
Abstract
AbstractAimThis study aims to understand the perceptions regarding physical restraints of the elder‐care professional's stakeholders.DesignA qualitative methodology was employed.MethodsSemi‐structured interviews were conducted with a convenient sample of 19 participants, which included nursing homes' managers, nurses and physicians; law, ethics, quality or patient rights' protection experts in care and public servers with responsibilities in the field. The data were collected, recorded and verbatim transcribed. A thematic analysis approach was used to analyse the data.ResultsThree main themes emerged: the use of restraints, organizational issues and regulation. Although professionals involved in nursing care agree that improvements have been made, they highlight the negative impact of restraints and the need for a change in culture about their use. Yet, they have concerns about the ‘zero restraints’ feasibility, with divergent views on the need for a stronger regulatory framework.