Quality appraisal of guidelines on physical restraints in intensive care units: A systematic review

Prevalence and variability in use of physical restraints in intensive care units: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Given the varying perspectives on the use of physical restraint (PR) over the past decades and the provided protocols to minimise its occurrence in intensive care units (ICUs), a comprehensive study was deemed necessary to examine the prevalence and variation of PR use in ICUs.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to estimate the overall proportions of PR utilised in adult ICUs whilst examining the various factors contributing to the variability of these estimates.

METHODS

A search of five databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science) was performed. Studies published in English and available online from inception to December 18, 2024, were included. A pooled estimate with a 95% confidence interval was calculated, and the data were represented by the random-effect model. Analysis was performed using the STATA statistical software (version 17).

RESULTS

The meta-analysis included 39 studies, with a sample size of 21 665 patients. The overall prevalence of patients exposed to PRs was 41.6% (95% confidence interval: 33.8%-49.5%). The heterogeneity was significantly high (I2 = 99.61%), and the Q Cochrane test for homogeneity was significant (p value < 0.001), indicating substantial variability between studies. Subgroup analysis regarding the continent and restraint method contributed to a lowered heterogeneity.

CONCLUSIONS

There was considerable variation in reported estimates of PR prevalence in adult ICUs. Despite valid guidelines and recommendations supporting the reduction of PR, the results of our study show its significant prevalence. Additionally, our study demonstrated a relationship between PR use and delirium, sedation use, and mechanical ventilation. This study emphasises the importance of managing and focussing on PRs in ICUs. Also, it is crucial to evaluate barriers to guideline implementation.

REGISTRATION

The systematic review protocol has been prospectively registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews: CRD42024566480.

Physical restraint in older people: an opinion from the Early Career Network of the International Psychogeriatric Association

The International Psychogeriatric Association (IPA) has expressed significant concerns over the use of physical restraints in older people across diverse aged care settings. Following an extensive analysis of the available literature, the IPA's Early Career Network (ECN) has formulated a collection of evidence-based recommendations aimed at guiding the use of physical restraints within various care contexts and demographic groups. Physical restraints not only infringe upon human rights but also raise significant safety concerns that adversely impact the physical, psychological, social, and functional well-being of older adults. Furthermore, their effectiveness in geriatric settings remains inadequate. Given these considerations, the IPA and its ECN firmly assert that the use of physical restraints should only be considered as a final recourse in the care of older people.

Methodological quality and clinical recommendations of guidelines on the management of dyslipidaemias for cardiovascular disease risk reduction: a systematic review and an appraisal through AGREE II and AGREE REX tools

BACKGROUND

Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are statements to assist practitioners and stakeholders in decisions about healthcare. Low methodological quality guidelines may prejudice decision-making and negatively affect clinical outcomes in non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases worsted by poor lipid management. We appraised the quality of CPGs on dyslipidemia management and synthesized the most updated pharmacological recommendations.

METHODS

A systematic review following international recommendations was performed. Searches to retrieve CPG on pharmacological treatments in adults with dyslipidaemia were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Trip databases. Eligible articles were assessed using AGREE II (methodological quality) and AGREE-REX (recommendation excellence) tools. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize data. The most updated guidelines (published after 2019) had their recommendations qualitatively synthesized in an exploratory analysis.

RESULTS

Overall, 66 guidelines authored by professional societies (75%) and targeting clinicians as primary users were selected. The AGREE II domains Scope and Purpose (89%) and Clarity of Presentation (97%), and the AGREE-REX item Clinical Applicability (77.0%) obtained the highest values. Conversely, guidelines were methodologically poorly performed/documented (46%) and scarcely provided data on the implementability of practical recommendations (38%). Recommendations on pharmacological treatments are overall similar, with slight differences concerning the use of supplements and the availability of drugs.

CONCLUSION

High-quality dyslipidaemia CPG, especially outside North America and Europe, and strictly addressing evidence synthesis, appraisal, and recommendations are needed, especially to guide primary care decisions. CPG developers should consider stakeholders' values and preferences and adapt existing statements to individual populations and healthcare systems to ensure successful implementation interventions.

Vascular complications in extremities of physically restrained intensive care unit patients: A prospective, observational study

BACKGROUND

Physical restraint is used to prevent agitation, to continue treatments and to ensure safety in intensive care patients. Physical restraint has negative effects on physical and psychological health, and physical restraint should not be used unless necessary.

AIMS

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the development of vascular complications in extremities of physically restrained patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU) and the associated factors.

STUDY DESIGN

A prospective, observational study. The study was conducted between September 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023 in eight ICUs of a hospital located in the inner regions of Türkiye. The development of vascular complications (discolouration, distemperature, variations in capillary refill time, fluctuations in peripheral pulse, skin ulceration and oedema in the area of physical restraint) rate in patients hospitalized in the ICUs who were physically restrained. Independent sample t test, Mann-Whitney U test and Pearson-χ2 test were used to analyse the data.

RESULTS

During the study, 2409 patients were admitted to ICUs. Physical restraint was applied to 209 of these patients. Of the 209 patients, 112 patients who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. The physical restraint site of the patients was evaluated an average of 230.12 times and physical restraint was terminated in 9.8% of the patients (n = 112) because of vascular complications that developed in the physical restraint site. The rate of vascular complications at the site of physical restraint was higher in patients with endotracheal tubes (p < .05), lower GCS scores (p < .05) and higher INR values (p < .05). Patients with skin ulceration at the restraint site received more massages and cream applications (%95CL = 1. 1.692-34.734, OR = 7.667, p = .032). It was determined that more massage was applied to patients with changes in skin temperature at the restraint site (%95Cl = 1.062-11.599, OR = 3.510, p = .032).

CONCLUSIONS

Vascular complications may develop at the restraint site in patients hospitalized in the ICU. This may be more common in ICU patients with endotracheal tube, lower GCS score and higher INR values.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Nurses should closely monitor ICUs patients with endotracheal tube, lower GCS score and higher INR values, and implement care interventions to prevent the development of vascular complications.

Methodological Quality of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Treatment Evidence-Based Guidelines: A Systematic Review Using the AGREE II and AGREE REX Tools

PURPOSE

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease with a poor prognosis, and its management should be grounded in well-developed clinical practice guidelines (CPG). Thus, we critically assess the methodological quality of the available CPG for pharmacological treatments for PAH.

METHODS

A systematic review (CRD42023387168) was performed in PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, and Tripdatabase (Jan-2023). Eligible records were appraised by four reviewers using the Appraisal of Guidelines, Research, and Evaluation Collaboration tool (AGREE II) and the complementary tool for assessing recommendations' quality and certainty, AGREE REX. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data.

RESULTS

Overall, 31 guidelines, mainly authored by professional societies (90%), targeting only physicians as primary users (84%), were identified. Guidelines presented a moderate overall quality (scores of 63% and 51% in AGREE II and AGREE REX, respectively), with a few domains showing slight improvements over the years. AGREE II "Scope and Purpose" (94%) and "Presentation Clarity" (99%) domains obtained the highest scores. The items related to "Stakeholder involvement," "Editorial independence," and "Clinical applicability" (AGREE REX) were fairly reported. Conversely, CPG lacks rigor in development (32% score, AGREE II), scarcely discusses the role of stakeholders, and provides deficient data on the implementation of recommendations (scores of 35% and 46% in AGREE II and AGREE REX, respectively). No differences in the quality of guidelines published by different developers or countries were observed (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Methodological weaknesses are common among guidelines addressing PAH treatment, especially regarding scientific rigor, stakeholders' values and preferences, and facilitators and barriers to implementability. Particular attention should be given to developing future guidelines.

Interprofessional intensive care unit (ICU) team perspectives on physical restraint practices and minimization strategies in an adult ICU: A qualitative study of contextual influences

BACKGROUND

Guidelines advocate for minimization of physical restraint (PR) use in intensive care units (ICU). Interprofessional team perspectives on PR practices can inform the design and implementation of successful PR minimization interventions.

AIM

To identify ICU staff perspectives of contextual influences on PR practices and minimization strategies.

STUDY DESIGN

A qualitative descriptive study in a single ICU in Toronto, Canada. One-on-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 ICU staff. A deductive content analysis of interviews was undertaken using the integrated-Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (i-PARIHS) framework.

RESULTS

Five themes were developed: risk-averse culture, leadership, practice monitoring and feedback processes, environmental factors, and facilitation. Participants described a risk-averse culture where prophylactic application of PR for intubated patients was used to prevent unplanned extubation thereby avoiding blame from colleagues. Perceived absence of leadership and interprofessional team involvement situated nurses as the primary decision-maker for restraint application and removal. Insufficient monitoring of restraint practices, lack of access to restraint alternatives, and inability to control environmental contributors to delirium and agitation further increased PR use. Recommendations as to how to minimize restraint use included a nurse facilitator to advance leadership-team collaboration, availability of restraints alternatives, and guidance on situations for applying and removing restraints.

CONCLUSIONS

This analysis of contextual influences on PR practices and minimization using the i-PARIHS framework revealed potentially modifiable barriers to successful PR minimization, including a lack of leadership involvement, gaps in practice monitoring, and collaborative decision-making processes. A team approach to changing behaviour and culture should be considered for successful implementation and sustainability of PR minimization.

RELEVANCE TO PRACTICE

The establishment of an interprofessional facilitation team that addresses risk-averse culture and promotes collaboration among ICU stakeholders will be crucial to the success of any approach to restraint minimization.

Quality appraisal of clinical practice guidelines for the management of Dysphagia after acute stroke

Objectives

Dysphagia is a common complication in stroke patients, widely affecting recovery and quality of life after stroke. The objective of this systematic review is to identify the gaps that between evidence and practice by critically assessing the quality of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for management of dysphagia in stroke.

Methods

We systematically searched academic databases and guideline repositories between January 1, 2014, and August 1, 2023. The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE II) instrument was used by two authors to independently assess CPG quality.

Results

In a total of 14 CPGs included, we identified that three CPGs obtained a final evaluation of "high quality," nine CPGs achieved "moderate quality" and two CPGs received "low quality." The domain of "scope and purpose" achieved the highest mean score (91.1%) and the highest median (IQR) of 91.7% (86.1, 94.4%), while the domain of "applicability" received the lowest mean score (55.8%) and the lowest median (IQR) of 55.4% (43.2, 75.5%).

Conclusion

The CPG development group should pay more attention to improving the methodological quality according to the AGREE II instrument, especially in the domain of "applicability" and "stakeholder involvement;" and each item should be refined as much as possible.

Values and preferences of health care professionals, policy-makers, patients and family members regarding recommendations of adapted physical restraint guidelines in critical care: A survey research

BACKGROUND

The values and preferences of stakeholders are crucial in the development of guidelines.

AIM

The aim of this study was to investigate stakeholders' values and preferences regarding draft recommendations for adapted physical restraint guidelines in China.

STUDY DESIGN

This survey research was carried out at four university-affiliated comprehensive hospitals based in the eastern, central, western, and north eastern zones of China from January 5-30, 2022. A 48-item self-report questionnaire was distributed, and values and preferences were assessed on a 10-point Likert scale. One-way ANOVA was used to compare values and preference scores among stakeholders. As effect-size measures, partial η2 and Cohen's f values are reported for ANOVA results.

RESULTS

A total of 1155 stakeholders were enrolled in the study. The mean value and preference scores were higher than seven for 46 draft recommendations. There was either no significant difference in the values and preferences of the stakeholders for the draft recommendations or there was a significant difference (p values ranged from <0.001 ∼ .048), but the effect size was small or very small (partial η2 value ranged from 0.011 ∼ .044; Cohen's f value ranged from 0.101 ∼ .214). The mean scores of patients for items related to cyber therapy and early tracheotomy were 6.84 and 6.60, respectively, which were lower than those of family members, policy-makers, and health care professionals and were statistically significant (p < 0.001). The partial η2 and Cohen's f values of the effect size were 0.083/0.062 and 0.302/0.256, respectively, which indicated that the differences were moderate.

CONCLUSION

These recommendations were in line with the values and preferences of stakeholders. Patients were more supportive of implementing cyber therapy or hypnosis for pain management but did not support early tracheotomy to reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation. Guideline panels could use value and preference information to revise and endorse recommendations of adapted physical restraint guidelines in critical care.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Practitioners should implement recommendations based on the values and preferences of stakeholders.

Predicting Critical Care Nurses' Intention to Use Physical Restraints in Intubated Patients: A Structural Equation Model

Aims

To identify the factors influencing critical care nurses' intention of physical restraint in intubated patients.

Background

Physical restraint reduction has been advocated by many international institutions, nurses are the main physical restraint decision-makers, and it is critical to identify the factors influencing physical restraint intention from nurses' perspective.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among critical care nurses in China from February 2022 to March 2022.

Results

The model showed a good model fit (χ 2/df = 2.57, RMSEA = 0.07, GFI = 0.94, CFI = 0.89, and AGFI = 0.90). Attitude (β = 0.29, p < 0.05), subjective norm (β = 0.25, p < 0.05), and perceived behavioral control (β = 0.32, p < 0.001) directly influenced the intention to use physical restraint in intubated patients. Ethical conflict (β = 0.04, p < 0.05) indirectly influenced the intention.

Conclusions

The study revealed that ethical conflict, attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control were positive predictors of physical restraint intention among intubated patients from nurses' perspectives. Implications for Nursing Management. This provides a theoretical perspective to develop effective interventions to reduce physical restraints in critical care settings. Nursing managers should enhance ethical education and physical restraint knowledge and skill training.

Prevalence and Influencing Factors of Physical Restraints in Intensive Care Units: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Purpose

Physical restraints are used routinely in intensive care units (ICUs) and have negative effects. It is critical to identify the impact factors of physical restraints on critically ill patients. The present study investigated the prevalence of physical restraints and impact factors associated with their use in a large cohort of critically ill patients over one year.

Patients and Methods

A retrospective cohort study was performed in multiple ICUs at a tertiary hospital in China in 2019 using observational data from electronic medical records. The data consisted of demographics and clinical variables. Logistic regression was used to assess the independent impact factors for the use of physical restraint.

Results

The analysis consisted of 3776 critically ill patients with a prevalence of physical restraint use of 48.8%. The logistic regression analysis indicated that physical restraint use was associated with independent risk factors, including surgical ICU admission, pain, tracheal tube placement, and abdominal drainage tube placement. Physical restraint use was associated with independent protective factors, including male sex, light sedation, muscle strength, and ICU length of stay.

Conclusion

The prevalence of physical restraint use in critically ill patients was high. Tracheal tubes, surgical ICU, pain, abdominal drainage tubes, light sedation, and muscle strength were independent variables associated with the use of physical restraint. These results will assist health professionals in identifying high-risk physical restraint patients based on their impact factors. Early removal of the tracheal tube and abdominal drainage tube, pain relief, light sedation, and improvements in muscle strength may help reduce the use of physical restraints.

Using the evidence to decision frameworks to formulate the direction and strength of recommendations for adapted guidelines of physical restraints in critical care: A Delphi study

BACKGROUND

It has been shown that the use of physical restraints has negative physiological and psychological impacts on critically ill patients. The development of clinical practice guidelines is necessary for minimizing the use of physical restraints.

OBJECTIVE

As part of a guideline adaptation project, this study aimed to formulate the direction and strength of recommendations for adapted guidelines of physical restraints in critical care.

METHODS

Literature retrieval of guidelines and systematic reviews was performed and guideline steering committee discussions were conducted to develop an inquiry questionnaire. From February to April 2022, a two-round study, including 27 multidisciplinary experts, was conducted using the evidence to decision frameworks and Delphi methods.

RESULTS

The 27 experts were from 22 of the 33 provinces/municipalities/autonomous regions of mainland China. For the first and second questionnaires, the recovery rates were 85.7% and 100%, respectively. In the first and second rounds, the average authoritative coefficients were 0.93 and 0.94, respectively. Regarding Kendall W values, the values were 0.555 and 0.120, respectively. A consensus was reached on 15 recommendations, including one strong recommendation, seven conditional recommendations and seven good practice statements.

CONCLUSION

In the two rounds of consultations, a consensus was reached on 15 recommendations for the adapted physical restraint guidelines in critical care through the evidence to decision frameworks and Delphi methods. Recommendations in the adapted physical restraint guidelines are related to institutional and educational interventions, risk assessment, the management of patients' unsafe behaviours, pain, mechanical ventilation, sleep, family engagement, mobility, sedation, and delirium.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE

Based on our recommendations, we uggest nurses develop a physical restraint education bundle.

Critical care nurses' experiences of physical restraint in intensive care units: A qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis

INTRODUCTION

Physical restraint is widely used in intensive care units. Critical care nurses are the primary decision makers and practitioners of physical restraint. However, little is known about the qualitative evidence of their experience of physical restraint.

AIMS

To aggregate, synthesise and interpret the qualitative evidence of studies that explored critical care nurses' experiences of physical restraint in intensive care units.

METHODS

A qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis was conducted following Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and reported following the ENTREQ statement. Qualitative studies published in the English and Chinese were systematically searched in eight databases. PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan Fang, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database from inception to November 2021. Two reviewers independently assessed the study eligibility and performed the data extraction and the quality appraisal. A meta-aggregative approach was used to synthesise findings. The review protocol was registered prospectively with PROSPERO (CRD42021278671).

RESULTS

Thirteen studies were included. A total of 48 intact and definite codes were extracted and classified into ten sub-categories. Four themes were finally identified: intention, alternatives, determinants, and reflection.

CONCLUSION

The intention of critical care nurses to use physical restraint is primarily driven by patient safety. Nurses will consider alternatives; however, many determinants urge nurses to implement physical restraint. Nurses prefer to sacrifice patients' comfort to ensure their safety. When nurses reflect on what they have done, some experience moral distress, but most rationalise their decision making. Further studies should explore the safety of alternatives, reduce the use of physical restraint, and pay more attention to nurses' moral distress through these insights.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Developing alternatives, providing relevant training for nurses, physicians, patients, and families to facilitate a restraint-free culture, and developing high-quality guidelines and regulations are essential strategies to reduce the use of physical restraint in ICUs.

Non-Pharmacological Interventions for Minimizing Physical Restraints Use in Intensive Care Units: An Umbrella Review

Background

There is a relationship between the application of physical restraints and negative physiological and psychological effects on critically ill patients. Many organizations have supported and advocated minimizing the use of physical restraints. However, it is still common practice in many countries to apply physical restraints to patients in intensive care.

Objective

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of various non-pharmacological interventions used to minimize physical restraints in intensive care units and provide a supplement to the evidence summary for physical restraints guideline adaptation.

Methods

Based on the methodology of umbrella review, electronic databases, including Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Joanna Briggs Institute Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, PsycInfo/Psyc Articles/Psychology and Behavioral Science Collection, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, SinoMed, and Wanfang Data, were searched to identify systematic reviews published from January 2016 to December 2020. Two independent reviewers undertook screening, data extraction, and quality appraisal. The methodological quality of systematic reviews was evaluated by AMSTAR 2. Evidence quality of each intervention was assessed according to GRADE. The corrected covered area was calculated as a measure of overlap.

Results

A total of 47 systematic reviews were included in the umbrella review, of which six were evaluated as high quality, five were of moderate quality, and the rest were of low or critically low quality. The corrected covered area range was from 0.0 to 0.269, which indicated that there was mild overlap between systematic reviews. The included systematic reviews evaluated various types of non-pharmacological interventions for minimizing physical restraints in intensive care units, which included multicomponent interventions involving healthcare professionals' education, family engagement/support, specific consultations and communication, rehabilitation and mobilization (rehabilitation techniques, early mobilization, inspiratory muscle training), interventions related to reducing the duration of mechanical ventilation (weaning modes or protocols, ventilator bundle or cough augmentation techniques, early tracheostomy, high-flow nasal cannula), and management of specific symptoms (delirium, agitation, pain, and sleep disturbances).

Conclusion

The number of systematic reviews related to physical restraints was limited. Multicomponent interventions involving healthcare professionals' education may be the most direct non-pharmacological intervention for minimizing physical restraints use in intensive care units. However, the quality of evidence was very low, and conclusions should be taken with caution. Policymakers should consider incorporating non-pharmacological interventions related to family engagement/support, specific consultations and communication, rehabilitation and mobilization, interventions related to reducing the duration of mechanical ventilation, and management of specific symptoms as part of the physical restraints minimization bundle. All the evidence contained in the umbrella review provides a supplement to the evidence summary for physical restraints guideline adaptation.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=242586, identifier: CRD42021242586.

Quality and clinical applicability of recommendations for incontinence-associated dermatitis: A systematic review of guidelines and consensus statements

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to assess methodological quality of all currently available guidelines and consensus statements for IAD using the Appraisal of Guidelines, Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II and the AGREE Recommendation Excellence (AGREE-REX) instruments.

BACKGROUND

Globally, incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) is a significant health challenge. IAD is a complex healthcare problem that reduces quality of life of patients, increases healthcare costs and prolongs hospital stays. Several guidelines and consensus statements are available for IAD. However, the quality of these guidelines and consensus statements remains unclear.

DESIGN

A systematic review of guidelines and consensus statements.

METHODS

Our study was undertaken using PRISMA guidelines. We searched seven electronic databases. Guidelines and consensus statements had to be published in English, Chinese or German languages. Five independent reviewers assessed the methodological quality of guidelines and consensus statements using the AGREE II and AGREE-REX instruments. Mean with standard deviation (SD) and median with interquartile range (IQR) were calculated for descriptive analyses. We generated bubble plots to describe the assessment results of each domain of each guideline and consensus statement.

RESULTS

We included ten guidelines and consensus statements. The NICE guidelines, obtained the highest scores, fulfilled 86.11%-98.61% of criteria in AGREE II and 76.67%-91.11% for AGREE-REX. In the domains 'Stakeholder Involvement' (4.39 ± 1.64), 'Rigor of Development' (3.38 ± 1.86), 'Applicability' (3.62 ± 1.64), 'Editorial Independence' (3.91 ± 2.56) and 'Values and Preferences' (2.98 ± 1.41), the remaining guidelines and consensus statements showed deficiencies.

CONCLUSIONS

Altogether, this study demonstrated that the currently available guidelines and consensus statements for IAD have room for methodological improvement. NICE guidelines on faecal incontinence and urinary incontinence have better quality. Remaining guidelines and consensus statements showed substantial methodological weaknesses, especially the domains of 'Stakeholder Involvement', 'Rigor of Development', 'Applicability', 'Editorial independence' and 'Values and Preferences'. This study was registered on INPLASY. (Registration number: INPLASY202190078).

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

The currently available guidelines and consensus statements on IAD have room for methodological improvement.