The social validation of three physical restraint procedures: a comparison of young people and professional groups

• Published in: Research in developmental disabilities Vol. 21; no. 2; pp. 85 - 92
• Main Authors: McDonnell, Andrew A, Sturmey, Peter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2000
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Adults; Attitude of Health Personnel; Behavior Modification; Behavior Problems; Child; Children; Classroom Techniques; Education of Intellectually Disabled; Female; Humans; Institutionalization; Intellectual Disability - psychology; Intellectual Disability - therapy; Male; Mental Disorders - psychology; Mental Disorders - therapy; Mental Retardation; Residential Programs; Restraint; Restraint, Physical - methods; Social Attitudes; Teacher Attitudes
• ISSN: 0891-4222; 1873-3379
• DOI: 10.1016/S0891-4222(00)00026-3

The treatment acceptability of three forms of physical restraint was evaluated with three groups of raters. One restraint method involved personal restraint in a chair, two other methods involved personal restraint on the floor. The three groups of raters were special education staff, residential staff, and a group of young adults with no experience of residential services. Ratings, of videotaped role-play using the Treatment Evaluation Inventory (Kazdin, 1980) revealed that the chair method of restraint was rated as more acceptable than the other method to all three groups. The residential staff rated the chair method as more acceptable than the other methods. The results are discussed in terms of the importance of evaluating restrictive, emergency procedures, and future methodological refinements.