Impact of "+Contigo" training on the knowledge and attitudes of health care professionals about suicide

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: to evaluate the results of "+Contigo" training, developed by nurses and directed at 66 health professionals of integrated school health teams in Primary Health Care. METHOD: quantitative with data collection through the Suicide Behavior Attitude Questionnaire, administered before and after the training. RESULTS: significant increases were observed in suicide prevention knowledge and in changing attitudes of health professionals towards individuals with suicidal behavior. CONCLUSION: these results allow us to affirm that nurses hold scientific and pedagogical knowledge that grant them a privileged position in the health teams, to develop training aimed at health professionals involved in suicide prevention.

Atitudes relacionadas ao suicídio entre graduandos de enfermagem e fatores associados

“…Education of health professionals needs to includes skills related to self-knowledge, empathy, understanding, communication, attitudes and knowledge about suicidal behavior, (13,17) the possibility of suicide prevention, and the clarification of the role of nursing in the care of the suicidal patient. (18) Negative, moralistic, or condemnatory attitudes toward suicidal behavior are among the many factors that interfere with the quality of care for a person at risk for suicide.…”

“…(13) One study identified a less moralistic attitude (15) among women, while in other investigations, there was no difference in attitudes according to sex. (13,17) Education in mental health and suicide appears to promote consistent improvements in attitude and knowledge related to suicide. (7,15) In the present study, participation in events, courses and lectures on suicide was not associated with better attitudes.…”

The +Contigo Project in the Voice of Eight-Grade Students

“…Some studies have also demonstrated that interventions at the level of problem-solving and, consequently, in the acquisition/development of effective coping strategies can contribute to preventing suicidal behaviors (Santos et al, 2014). Through the intervention dynamics, adolescents begin understanding that some problem-solving strategies are more effective than others, and that these may change over time; they learn new strategies or adjust the existing ones to each situation.…”

“…Since the 2015/2016 school year, the assessment is only performed before the intervention and at the end of the school year. The data collection instrument is a questionnaire composed of a socio-demographic characterization followed by several scales that measure variables such as well-being, coping, self-concept, and depression (Santos, Erse, Façanha, Marques & Simões, 2014).…”

“…Parents must give their consent for questionnaire application. In addition to adolescents, the intervention is also targeted at the members of the educational community (Erse et al, 2016;Santos, Simões, Erse, Façanha, & Marques, 2014) …”