Maintained Attitudinal Changes in Nursing Personnel After a Brief Training on Suicide Prevention

Abstract

Nursing personnel (N = 317) working at a general hospital attended a 6-hour training program on suicide prevention. They answered anonymously pre- and post-training the Suicide Behavior Attitude Questionnaire (SBAQ), which comprises 21 visual analogue scale items divided in three factorial subscales. The results indicated there were positive changes in the attitudes and these gains were significantly maintained at the 6-month follow-up evaluation. Improvement was in the Feelings and Professional Capacity subscales (ANOVA; p = 0.0001 and 0.01, respectively). There was no change on the Right to Suicide subscale. Because attitudes influence the effectiveness of health care personnel interventions, our findings may have important implications for the development of suicide prevention programs.

Norwegian Nurse Managers’ Perceptions of Ethical Conflicts in Community Healthcare When Caring for Older Persons Who Wish to Die

“…Sometimes it can be sufficient to devote more time to the elderly patient and encourage her/him to talk about the emotional pain and suffering. However, research has revealed negative attitudes towards suicide among nurses [50]. The belief that a person does not have the right to commit suicide was stronger among older nurses, those who had never taken care of suicidal patients, had a family history of suicide, who were Protestants and attended church services more frequently.…”

“…The belief that a person does not have the right to commit suicide was stronger among older nurses, those who had never taken care of suicidal patients, had a family history of suicide, who were Protestants and attended church services more frequently. Greater professional capacity was reported by nursing assistants and nurses who had already taken care of suicidal patients [50]. Such negative attitudes can be sensed by the older patients, causing them to conceal their serious suicidal plans.…”

Characteristics and Effects of Suicide Prevention Programs: Comparison between Workplace and Other Settings

“…• Education and training of individuals: providing mental health education for employees [11][12][13][14] • Development of a support network: Development a support network among employees 14) , encouraging cooperation between managers and industry health staff 14) • Cooperation from internal and external resources:…”

“…providing mental health education for managers or occupational health staff [11][12][13][14] The characteristic contents of suicide prevention programs at the workplace aimed to improve personnel management and health care 16) .…”

“…In a separate study, 317 nursing personnel working at a general hospital attended a six-hour training program on suicide prevention 12) , which focused on the impact and stigma towards suicide behavior; common mental disorders associated with suicide at the hospital, including depression, alcohol dependence, and delirium; basic interview skills; and the assessment and management of suicidal patients. Before and after training, subjects anonymously completed the Suicide Behavior Attitude Questionnaire.…”