What do Children Tell Us About Their Experiences of Physical Restraint in Mental Healthcare Services

Simon Nielson

Abstract

Background: There is currently no empirical research in this area. Physical restraint is often implemented in healthcare to reduce risk; it’s use can raise ethical, moral and legal issues and its implementation has been associated with traumatic psychological damage in hospitalised patients. When a child is physically restrained, it increases the likelihood of physical harm. However, potential psychological harm can be overlooked. Method: Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was utilised in this qualitative study to facilitate detailed examination of children’s lived experiences. The study examined the experiences of 10 children (aged 10-14) using audio recorded face-to-face interviews, based around a non-prescriptive semi-structured schedule, developed through patient and public involvement.