Background:

physical restraint in psychiatric services is a common practice, which can compromise a person’s freedom, self-determination, dignity and life. Associated with efforts to minimize the use of this measure, the nurse-patient ratio factor has been little studied.

Objective:

to analyze the influence of the nurse-patient ratio in psychiatric services on the use of physical restraint and isolation.

Methodology:

systematic literature review, according to the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology. Studies in patients admitted to psychiatric services, published until 12/10/2020, were included.

Results:

1208 studies screened, including 4 observational. One analyzed ratio, while others, the number of nurses/professionals. Two observed rate and duration of isolation, while the rest also looked at physical restraint. Two studies concluded that the increase in the number/ratio of nurses decreases the use and duration of restrictive measures, while the other two concluded the opposite. In the study that analyzed the nurse-user ratio, a reduction in these measures was observed.

Conclusions:

it was not possible to determine a clear association between an improvement in the nurse-patient ratio in psychiatric services and a reduction in the use of physical restraint and isolation. However, it is recommended that research be strengthened so that robust results can be identified.