Abstract
We examined physical restraint use among 1856 nursing home residents hospitalized with hip fracture using a data set of hip fracture patients in 20 U. S. hospitals from 1983-1993. Mean age of patients was 85.2 years, 81.7% were women, and 91.3% were white. Rate of physical restraint use was 59.4%. Pre-operative physical restraint use was predicted by younger age, confusion, dementia, and needing assistance or dependency in activities of daily living (ADL). Physical restraint use following surgery was predicted by pre-operative physical restraint use, confusion, dementia, and lower co-morbidity of illness. At hospital discharge, restrained patients were more likely to be dependent in ADL and continence. The reduction of physical restraints among hospitalized nursing home residents will require attention to a multiplicity of factors that contribute to restraint use.