Restraint Practices in Incapable Wandering Patients During COVID-19: Ethics and Best Practice Recommendations.

Patients who wander as one of their psychological and behavioural symptoms of dementia are often unable to follow or recall Infection Prevention and Control precautions, putting them at risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19. Physical and chemical restraints have been used to limit the risk of transmission to wandering patients and their care providers, but restraints are not the standard of care for wandering behaviour in non-pandemic scenarios. Although provincial policies on restraint use are available, their guidance may not provide the context-dependent information necessary for individual patient decisions.

Mixed-Methods Evaluation of a Patient Behaviour Risk Screening, Communication and Care Planning Intervention for Hospital Settings.

Workplace violence is a common safety concern for hospital staff. The Behaviour Safety Risk Communication and Care Planning program identifies, manages and cares for patients at risk of exhibiting unsafe behaviours. This paper reports on a mixed-methods evaluation consisting of staff surveys, focus groups and open forums, screening audits, patient interviews and assessment of effectiveness measures at five hospital sites.

Developing and Implementing a Patient Behaviour Risk Screening, Communication and Care Planning Intervention for Hospital Settings.

Workplace violence prevention of patient behaviours is a primary safety focus in hospital settings. In response to provincial mandates, a multi-site tertiary care hospital system developed the Behaviour Safety Risk Communication and Care Planning Program. Components include patient risk screening, communication tools and care plans that outline mitigation strategies.