Restraint Removal and Changes in Social Response Among Nursing Home Residents

Abstract

This study investigated whether removing physical restraints from previously restrained nursing home residents would change their social response. A quasi-experimental design was used to obtain data from 93 previously restrained subjects who became restraint-free (experimental group) andfrom 93 randomly selected never-restrained subjects (nonequivalent control group) in seven nursing homes. A repeated measures analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) controlling for group differences in cognitive status and physical activities of daily living (PADL) was used to examine changes in social response at pretest, posttest, and follow-up. Findings suggested that restraint removal had no effect on changing social response over time. Even after attempting to control for differences between groups, social response was significantly related to subjects' cognitive abilities and PADL status. The control group was better functioning in both areas, and this affected their ability to respond socially at a much higher level throughout the study than the experimental group.