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Use of Physical Restraints With People With Intellectual Disabilities Living in Sweden's Group Homes
Author(s) -
Lundström Mats O.,
Antonsson Helena,
Karlsson Stig,
Graneheim Ulla H.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of policy and practice in intellectual disabilities
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.592
H-Index - 30
eISSN - 1741-1130
pISSN - 1741-1122
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-1130.2011.00285.x
Subject(s) - screaming , group home , psychology , physical disability , intellectual disability , logistic regression , medicine , gerontology , psychiatry , philosophy , linguistics
People with intellectual disabilities (ID) often exhibit physical and communicative difficulties as well as challenging behaviors. Physical restraints are one method used to manage challenging behaviors and promote physical safety for people with ID, their fellow residents, and professional carers. However, there is a lack of data regarding the practice of employing physical restraints in Swedish group homes for people with ID. The aim was to investigate the prevalence of physical restraint use in group homes for people with ID, and to identify the characteristics of individuals subjected to these restraints. The study had a cross‐sectional design and included 556 people with ID, aged 16–90 years, living in 118 group homes. Physical restraint use and residents' characteristics were surveyed with a questionnaire. Of the 556 residents studied, 99 (17.8%) had been subjected to physical restraint over the previous week. Of these, 99.2% were subjected to more than one type of restraint. The most commonly used type of physical restraint was a belt (73.7%). Using logistic regression analysis, the independent risk factors strongly associated with being physically restrained were inability to walk independently, impaired speech, screaming and shouting continuously, epileptic seizures, and spasticity. Despite the absence of legal authority for physical restraint use in group homes for people with ID, physical restraints are frequently used in Sweden. Both physical impairments and behavioral symptoms are significantly associated with physical restraint use.