Two Decades of Research on Physical Restraint: A Global Bibliometric Analysis (2005 to 2024)

PURPOSE: To examine global publication trends, thematic developments, and emerging priorities in research on physical restraint from 2005 to 2024. METHOD: The current bibliometric analysis was conducted using original research published in English between 2005 and 2024, retrieved from the Science Citation Index Expanded database. Analyses of publication trends, institutional and geographic productivity, and author keyword networks were performed using Bibliometrix. RESULTS: A total of 1,154 articles were identified, with a 5.5% annual growth rate. Long-term care and dementia, intensive care sedation and delirium, psychiatric coercion, and health care professionals' knowledge and attitudes emerged as dominant themes. Thematic evolution revealed a shift from sedation protocols and agitation management to ethical issues, and a recent emphasis on dementia care, behavioral assessments, and interventions. CONCLUSION: The field has transitioned toward ethical reflection and interdisciplinary restraint reduction. Future priorities include exploring non-institutional contexts and integrating technology for restraint-minimizing care models.