In this study it was not possible to completely isolate intervention and control wards. The general distribution of information for the project possibly contributed to a collateral reduction of coercion rates in the control wards by “washing out” the effect of unawareness of the need to reduce seclusion-restraint practices. All wards were informed of the study
and were considered eventual candidates for the intervention. The leaders of the hospital worked as a steering group; some nurses worked on many wards, and the intervention was discussed openly. Therefore, the study may have underestimated the effect