Structural and Clinical Factors Associated with Physical Restraint Use in a Pediatric Emergency Department.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To examine how structural factors, such as child protective services (CPS) involvement, prehospital interactions with police or emergency medical services (EMS), and clinical factors, such as autism diagnosis, contribute to physical restraint use among pediatric patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) for behavioral health concerns.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, we reviewed pediatric ED encounters from January 1, 2021, to October 31, 2023, at a tertiary care children's hospital. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess associations among autism diagnosis, CPS involvement, and arrival mode (police/EMS) and physical restraint use, adjusted for demographic variables.

Results

Among 6288 behavioral health encounters, physic

SUBMITTER: Rolison MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12657716 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature