Evaluating intensive care nurses' knowledge, attitudes and practices related the use of physical restraint in terms of ethical attitude levels

In this study, it was aimed to evaluate intensive care nurses' knowledge, attitudes and practices related the use of physical restraint in terms of ethical attitude levels. The study's sample included 603 nurses who volunteered to participate in the study and worked in the critical care units of four public and private hospitals, as well as a university hospital in Gaziantep. The "Nurses Descriptive Characteristics Form," "Level of Knowledge Attitudes and Practices of Staff Regarding Physical Restraints Questionnaire" and "Ethical Attitude Scale in Nursing Care " were used to collect the data. Using SPSS 23 package software in the analysis of the data; data were evaluated with number, percentage, independent sample t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson Correlation and Stepwise multiple regression analysis. It was determined that the mean age of the nurses participating in the study was 27.80±5.27, 69.7% were female, 63.5% were single, 68.8% had a bachelor's degree or higher graduates, 64.1% worked in a state hospital and 39.8% in the general intensive care unit. It was found that the knowledge level of intensive care nurses about the use of physical restraints was sufficient, their attitudes were moderately positive, their practices were very good and their ethical attitude levels were highly positive. Considering the reasons for physical restraints, 77.3% of the nurses stated that the patients harmed himself, 69.8% the patients pulling the medical equipment, 68.7% the patients were agitated, and 64.5% stated the patients' non-compliance with medical treatment as the reason for their practice. It was observed that there was a positive and significant correlation between nurses' knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding the use of physical restraints and the total mean score of the ethical attitude scale (r=0.220, p<0.001). Factors affecting nurses' use of physical restraint; respectively, ethical attitude levels of nurses (β=0.183, p<0.001), obtaining informed consent (β=-0.341, p<0.001), attempting physical restraint to a patient (β=0.212, p<0.001) and years of work as a nurse in the intensive care unit (β=0.100, p=0.014). As a result, it was found that the knowledge level of the intensive care nurses about the use of physical restraints was sufficient, their attitudes were moderately positive, their practices were very good and their ethical attitudes were highly positive. It was observed that nurses with high ethical attitude levels had better knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding the use of physical restraint. Keywords: Ethical attitude, physical restraint, knowledge, attitude and practice, intensive care, nurse