Use of Restraint in the Psychiatric Setting: Knowledge of Medical Staff in a Nigerian Psychiatric Hospital

Background: Restraint is a widely used method of controlling patient’s behaviour throughout the world. However, next to nothing is known about its use in the developing countries. Aims: To assess the knowledge of medical staff of a Nigerian psychiatric hospital concerning the use of restraint. Methods: We administered a questionnaire designed for the purpose of this study to 74 medical staff to record their socio-demographic characteristics and assess their knowledge about the use of restraint in a psychiatric setting. Results: Fifty eight staff returned duly completed questionnaires (response rate, 78.4%). The mean age was 38.6 years, 69% were nurses and the mean year of practice was 11.9±9.0. Participants agreed that restraint was used to prevent patients from disturbing people 76%, to punish patients 14%, use of restraint could not lead to patient’s death 47%. Thirtyfive percent had no training in the use of restraint. Conclusion: Respondents’ knowledge on some aspects of restraint was poor and this may be due to lack of training. Keywords : restraint, psychiatric ward, knowledge, medical staff