A Concept Analysis of Restraint-Free Care

Purpose: This study aimed to define and clarify the concept of restraint-free care within the context of nursing practice.Methods: A concept analysis was conducted using the Walker and Avant method. Literature published between 1990 and 2025 was systematically reviewed across domestic and international databases. Sixteen relevant articles were selected and analyzed to identify the defining attributes, antecedents, and consequences of the concept.Results: The concept analysis identified three defining attributes of restraint-free care: (1) nursing practice that avoids coercion and physical restraint, (2) implementation of person-centered care, and (3) care grounded in ethical values. Antecedents of restraint-free care included the establishment of standardized protocols for restraint use, enhancement of nurses’ ethical sensitivity, implementation of alternative interventions to physical restraints, establishment of interdisciplinary collaboration, and provision of systematic education programs for nurses. The identified consequences of restraint-free care included promotion of patient recovery, improvement in the overall quality of nursing care, strengthening of professional nursing identity, and positive transformation of organizational culture.Conclusion: Restraint-free care reflects a paradigm shift from control-based interventions toward ethical, individualized care. Clarifying this concept provides a theoretical framework for the development of clinical guidelines, nursing education, and interventions aimed at minimizing physical restraint use. Establishing a shared understanding of restraint-free care may promote consistent communication among healthcare providers and facilitate its broader adoption in clinical settings.