A study of interventions in challenging behaviour
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A study on the use of interventions utilised to manage behaviours that challenge in an NHS learning disability adult service with specific focus on physical restraint, seclusion and chemical restraint.
IRAS ID
122236
Contact name
Penny Standen
Contact email
Research summary
It is estimated that between five and fifteen percent of people with LD display challenging behaviour (Lindsay, 1998) however this figure represents the whole learning disabled population. In NHS specialist services this figure is much higher due to the nature of those services. Challenging behaviour has also been identified as one of the top five health needs for people with LD by The Health Needs Annual Evidence Update for 2010 (NHS Evidence, 2010) and leads to responses that are aversive and restrictive such as physical restraint, seclusion and chemical restraint. It has been shown that approximately 50% of people with LD and challenging behaviour are subject to physical restraint, (Emerson, 2000). These approaches are ethically challenging but despite this there is little evidence on the subject and very little that concerns patients.
The research will consist of two parts, a quantitative study and a follow up qualitative study. Both parts will be undertaken in a specialist NHS learning disability service. This service is for adults with learning disabilities (LD). Part one, the quantitative study will involve a documentary analysis of untoward incident recordings. Untoward incidents forms are Trust documentation required to be completed by staff following any incident of challenging behaviour such as violence and aggression, self harm etc. The documentary analysis will review the untoward incident forms and particular attention will be paid to those resulting in the use of restraint, seclusion or chemical restraint to determine the frequency of the different interventions utilised and the factors associated with their use.
Part two will consist of qualitative interviews. The participants for the interviews will be staff and patients. The participants will be identified from the documentary analysis. The patients will be those exposed to restraint, seclusion and chemical restraint. The staff will be those involved in implementing the interventions.REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/EM/0372
Date of REC Opinion
29 Nov 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion