Analysis of a nurses' knowledge survey on the use of physical restraint in intensive care units

Objectives: To determine nurses' knowledge level regarding physical restraint use in intensive care units and its associated factors. Method: A cross-sectional multicentre study was carried out in 12 critical care units of 8 hospitals in Spain (n = 354 nurses). An 'ad-hoc' knowledge survey was developed, and their content was validated by experts. The survey obtained a test-retest stability of ICC = .71 (95% CI: .57-.81) in a previous pilot study. A final 8-item toot was designed. Sociodemographic and professional variables from the participants were collected; as well as structural and clinical variables from the units analyzed. A descriptive and association analysis between variables was performed. A p-value < .05 was deemed statistically significant. Results: Two hundred and fifty nurses answered the survey (70.62%). Mean age of the participants was 36.80 (SD 9.54) with 10.75 (SD 8.38) years of professional experience in critical care. Seventy-three point six percent had never received previous training about physical restraints. Knowledge mean value was 4.21 (SD 1.39) (range 0-8). Knowledge level was associated with the referral hospital (p < .001). Nurses with a higher knowledge level are more likely to work in units with informed consent sheets for physical restraint use (p < .001); flexible family visiting (p < .001); analgo-sedation protocol (p = .011), and units in which nurses had autonomy to manage analgo-sedation (p < .001). Individual sociodemographic and professional data was not associated with knowledge level. Conclusions: Further training regarding physical restraint use is needed for critical care nurses. The work environment where nursing care is given has a great influence on nurses' knowledge level about this intervention. (C) 2018 Sociedad Espanola de Enfermeria Intensive y Unidades Coronarias (SEEIUC). Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. All rights reserved.