Use of physical restraints on older adults in South Korean nursing homes: a multicenter study

In this study, we aimed to examine the current status of physical restraint use and ascertain factors affecting the rate of usage of physical restraints on older adults in South Korean nursing homes. For this purpose, we conducted a secondary analysis of data from 190 registered nurses employed at 62 nursing homes. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors affecting the use of restraints in nursing homes. The rate of using physical restraints was 79.5%. Nursing homes were found to use 90.7% and 91.3% less restraint when the work environment was better (odds ratio [OR]: 0.093, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.023–0.368) and mixed (OR: 0.087, 95% CI: 0.087–0.100), respectively. Nursing homes owned by corporations were 9.796 times more likely to use physical restraints than those owned by local governments (OR: 9.796, 95% CI: 1.473–65.158). Therefore, improving nurses’ work environment and introducing regulations and education that enable the entrusted doctors or nurses to make decisions regarding restraint use, monitoring, and removal, regardless of nursing home ownership type, are necessary.