Examining the use of physical restraints in emergency care and its impact on marginalized patients
Characterizing Bias and Care Disparities with Physical Restraint Use in the Emergency Setting Using Natural Language and Cognitive Data
This study looks at how physical restraints are used on patients who are feeling very agitated in emergency rooms, especially focusing on how biases might affect these decisions, with the aim of making sure everyone gets fair and better care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10633167 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates the use of physical restraints on agitated patients in emergency settings, focusing on how biases and disparities affect treatment decisions. It employs natural language processing to analyze clinical notes and cognitive task analysis to understand the decision-making processes of healthcare workers. By identifying the factors that contribute to the disproportionate use of restraints, particularly among marginalized groups, the study aims to uncover systemic biases and improve patient care. The goal is to create a more equitable approach to managing agitation in emergency situations.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include patients who present with agitation in emergency settings, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds such as Black patients or those without insurance.
Not a fit: Patients who do not present with agitation or who are not part of marginalized populations may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to reduced use of physical restraints and improved treatment outcomes for marginalized patients in emergency care.
How similar studies have performed: While there has been limited research on this specific approach, studies have shown that addressing biases in healthcare can lead to improved patient outcomes.
Where this research is happening
New Haven, United States
- Yale University — New Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wong, Ambrose H — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Wong, Ambrose H
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.