Conference Proceedings - School of Nursing & Midwifery - Trinity ...

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference
Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007
Conference Proceedings
This study identifies the defining attributes of the practice of bedrest
as; the removal of clothes, the use of night attire, curtailing
freedom, prevention of absconding and increased observation. The
findings of this study suggest that bed-rest does indeed sit within
the realm of subtle coercion. The alternatives to bed-rest presented
by the participants included more invasive interventions such as
locking the ward, increasing the level of security or changing the
patients’ legal status. Bed-rest, although identified as subtly
coercive, does not seem as negative. This topic urgently needs
further research regarding both its implications and efficacy from
the clients’ perspective. This study identifies the decision making
role to lie with the doctor, therefore a study researching medical
opinion on bed-rest would also be of benefit.
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