Background:

Physical restraint is an intrusive coercion made against the patient's will. It can make both health care workers and patients feel uncomfortable and harm the caring relationship. The core of a caring relationship is to preserve the patient's dignity, convey hope and health promotion within the patient. Aim: It describes from a health care workers perspective how physical restraint impacts the caring relationship between health care workers and patients in forensic psychiatric care. Method: This study was based on a qualitative design. Eight nurses and carers were interviewed within forensic psychiatric care. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the data. Results: Three themes were found from the results, these were: conditions for a caring relationship, conditions about physical restraint and physical restraints opportunities and barriers on the caring relationship. Health care workers described the professional approach, alliance and participation as key factors in a caring relationship. After physical restraint was used the caring relationship could be damaged for some time and therefore affect the continuing work on the patient's health process. Some health care workers consider physical restraints had a positive effect on a caring relationship, if trust was built and the patient felt that the health care workers were supportive in difficult situations. Conclusion: The caring relationship is mostly impacted shortly after physical restraint. Follow-up talks are an important part in the health care workers efforts to maintain the caring relationship with the patient