The purpose of this study was to investigate factors related to use of restraints for older adults with dementia in long-term care settings.

This study analyzed secondary data from the Nationwide Survey on Dementia Care in Korea (NaSDeCK). Demographic characteristics, disease characteristics, and functional characteristics were analyzed. Data were analyzed with x² test, t-test, ANOVA, and logistic regression analysis.

Among participants, 8.2% experienced use of restraints. ‘Strap’ (78.3%) was the most commonly used restraint and ‘Behavioral problem’ (51.3%) was a major reason for the restraint. Persons who have low levels of daily activity and cognition deficits, higher levels of dependence, histories of falls within the past 3 months, and living in long-term hospitals have greater probability of restraint experience.

Developing interventions for older adults who have a high risk of being restrained is essential to minimize unnecessary restraint use among older adults with dementia in long-term care settings. Further study exploring the interacting roles of organizational and staff factors related to use of physical restraints would provide more comprehensive perspectives in understanding this phenomenon.