Physical restraints applied to people diagnosed with dementia in home care from the perceptions of family caregivers: A qualitative study in China
Authors: Ma Dongfei , Wang Hong , Zhao Yingnan , Li Yijing , Zhang Xu , Nu Eradili , Sun Jiao 
Published: May 2023

Accessible Summary

What is known on the subject?

Physical restraint is widely used in the elderly at home, and cognitive impairment is an important risk factor. Family caregivers of people with dementia are the main decision makers and implementers of physical restraint at home.

Most people with dementia in China receive home care, and family caregivers face enormous care and moral pressures influenced by Confucian culture.

Current research on physical restraints focuses on quantitative analysis of its prevalence and reasons within the institutions. There is little research on how family caregivers perceive physical restraints in home care context, especially under Chinese culture.

What the paper adds to existing knowledge?

Many family caregivers face approach – avoidance conflict and moral dilemmas when making decisions to restrain, and they make difficult choices in these dilemmas.

In China, family caregivers are influenced by many unique factors, including traditional Confucian culture, family affection, and rural home environment.

Inadequate laws and policies provide the ground for abuse of physical restraints, and family caregivers rarely consider legal and policy restrictions when using physical restraints.

What are the implications for practice?

With limited medical resources, nurse‐led dementia management is the hope to reduce physical restraints in home.

Mental health nurses need to assess for the appropriateness of physical restraints associated with psychiatric symptoms in people with dementia.

At both organizational and community levels, improving effective communication and relationships between professionals and family caregivers are important to address. Improvements in this context require education and time for staff to develop skills and experience which is necessary to provide family caregivers with ongoing information and psychological support within their communities.

Considering Confucian culture will be of value for mental health nurses working in other countries where there are Chinese communities to better understand perceptions of family caregivers.

Introduction

The use of physical restraints is a common practice in home care. Family caregivers face care‐related and moral pressures due to the influence of Confucian culture in China. The use of physical restraints in the Chinese cultural environment may differ from the use of such restraints in other cultures.

Scientific Rationale

Current research on physical restraints focuses on quantitative analysis of its prevalence and reasons within the institutions. However, there is little research on how family caregivers perceive physical restraints in home care context, especially under Chinese culture.

Aim

To explore the perceptions of family caregivers on physical restraints in people diagnosed with dementia receiving home care.

Method

A descriptive, qualitative study of Chinese family caregivers of people diagnosed with dementia in home care. Framework method analysis was adopted using the multilevel socio‐ecological model.

Results

Beliefs about benefit lead to a dilemma for family caregivers. Cherishing family's affection encourages caregivers to reduce physical restraints, but lack of help from family members, professionals and the community forces them to restrain their loved ones.

Discussion

Future research should explore the complex issue of culturally specific physical restraints decisions.

Implications for Practice

Mental health nurses must receive education regarding the negative outcomes of the use of physical restraints for family members of people diagnosed with dementia. A more liberal approach to mental health and relevant legislation, which is an emerging global phenomenon that is currently in an early phase of development in China, grants human rights to people diagnosed with dementia. Effective communication and relationships between professionals and family caregivers can contribute to the establishment of a dementia‐friendly community in China.