The use of containment methods in health care facilities and in social service institutions

Violence has become a common part of our lives and increasing numbers of people have direct experience with violence or aggression.

It is also frequently encountered by health care workers in private practices, health care facilities and social service institutions.

Although the advancement of modern science has allowed successful treatment of increasingly more patients, it seems as if the time

has stopped in the field of care for agitated, aggressive and mentally ill patients, particularly in terms of the continuing use of containment



methods: One may often come across statements about outdated, unscientific and inhuman approaches which, from the point of

view of not only lay but also the non-uniform expert public, are represented by the containment methods. Lack of awareness on the use

of containment methods also plays a role, resulting in many myths and fictions. As a consequence, a negative attitude towards all the

containment methods and measures used in practice is reinforced. However, it is the practical experience which shows that, despite

ongoing progress, these unpopular methods cannot be dispensed with.

Keywords: restrictive measure, nursing care, patient, patient’s rights, standards of nursing care