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<article xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" dtd-version="1.0" article-type="general-medicine" lang="en">
  <front>
    <journal-meta>
      <journal-id journal-id-type="publisher">JOHS</journal-id>
      <journal-id journal-id-type="nlm-ta">Journ of Health Scien</journal-id>
      <journal-title-group>
        <journal-title>Journal of HealthCare Sciences</journal-title>
        <abbrev-journal-title abbrev-type="pubmed">Journ of Health Scien</abbrev-journal-title>
      </journal-title-group>
      <issn pub-type="ppub">2231-2196</issn>
      <issn pub-type="opub">0975-5241</issn>
      <publisher>
        <publisher-name>Radiance Research Academy</publisher-name>
      </publisher>
    </journal-meta>
    <article-meta>
      <article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">361</article-id>
      <article-id pub-id-type="doi">http://dx.doi.org/10.52533/JOHS.2024.41240</article-id>
      <article-id pub-id-type="doi-url"/>
      <article-categories>
        <subj-group subj-group-type="heading">
          <subject>General Medicine</subject>
        </subj-group>
      </article-categories>
      <title-group>
        <article-title>Ethical Concerns in the Use of Restraints Among the Elderly&#13;
</article-title>
      </title-group>
      <contrib-group>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Alsharari</surname>
            <given-names>Majed Fahad</given-names>
          </name>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Khayat</surname>
            <given-names>Muatz Ahmed</given-names>
          </name>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>AlMutairi</surname>
            <given-names>Abdulaziz Muslet</given-names>
          </name>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Alsaleh</surname>
            <given-names>Azzam AbdulRahman</given-names>
          </name>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Almotteri</surname>
            <given-names>Sultan Fahad</given-names>
          </name>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Almutairi</surname>
            <given-names>Omar Mutab</given-names>
          </name>
        </contrib>
      </contrib-group>
      <pub-date pub-type="ppub">
        <day>30</day>
        <month>12</month>
        <year>2024</year>
      </pub-date>
      <volume>4</volume>
      <issue>12</issue>
      <fpage>951</fpage>
      <lpage>956</lpage>
      <permissions>
        <copyright-statement>This article is copyright of Popeye Publishing, 2009</copyright-statement>
        <copyright-year>2009</copyright-year>
        <license license-type="open-access" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">
          <license-p>This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) Licence. You may share and adapt the material, but must give appropriate credit to the source, provide a link to the licence, and indicate if changes were made.</license-p>
        </license>
      </permissions>
      <abstract>
        <p>The use of restraints in elderly care remains a contentious issue, raising significant ethical and practical concerns. Restraints, whether physical or chemical, are often employed to manage safety risks, prevent falls, or address challenging behaviors. However, their use can lead to profound physical and psychological consequences, including injury, loss of mobility, anxiety, depression, and diminished quality of life. These adverse effects often conflict with the ethical principles of beneficence, non-maleficence, and respect for autonomy. Elderly patients with cognitive impairments, such as dementia, are particularly vulnerable, as they may lack the capacity to provide informed consent for restraint use. This highlights the importance of surrogate decision-making, advance care planning, and open communication between healthcare providers, families, and patients. Ethical guidelines emphasize minimizing restraint use and prioritizing less restrictive interventions. Comprehensive risk assessments, staff training, and patient-centered care strategies are essential in managing the underlying causes of behaviors that often lead to restraint use. Non-pharmacological alternatives, such as environmental adjustments, behavioral therapies, and enhanced caregiver-patient interactions, have demonstrated efficacy in reducing agitation and improving patient outcomes. Additionally, policy reforms and regulatory oversight can ensure that restraints are used only as a last resort, with stringent documentation and accountability measures. Cultural and institutional factors significantly influence the application of restraints, underscoring the need for culturally sensitive approaches and consistent ethical standards. Promoting restraint-free care models not only safeguards the dignity and rights of elderly patients but also enhances their overall quality of life. By fostering collaboration among caregivers, families, and institutions, the challenges associated with restraint use in elderly care can be addressed effectively, ensuring ethical and compassionate treatment for this vulnerable population.&#13;
</p>
      </abstract>
      <kwd-group>
        <kwd>elderly care</kwd>
        <kwd> restraints</kwd>
        <kwd> ethical guidelines</kwd>
        <kwd> autonomy</kwd>
        <kwd> patient-centered care</kwd>
      </kwd-group>
    </article-meta>
  </front>
</article>