Nursing students’ attitude towards suicide attempters: A study from rural part of Northern India

Abstract

Context:Majority of health professionals have unfavorable attitudes towards patients presenting with self-harm, which further compromises their willingness and outcome of care.Aims:To assess the nursing students’ attitudes toward suicide attempters.Settings and Design:Cross-sectional study was conducted in two nursing colleges of north India.Material and Methods:Three hundred and eight nursing students were recruited through total enumeration method from May to June 2012. ‘Suicide opinion questionnaire’ was administered to assess their attitudes towards suicide attempters.Statistical Analysis Used:Descriptive statistics was employed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 14.0 for Windows.Results:Majority were single females, from urban locality, with the mean age of 20 years. Only minority had previous exposure to suicide prevention programs and management of such cases. Majority of students agreed for mental illness, disturbed family life, and depression as major push to attempt suicide. They held favorable attitude for half of the attitudinal statement, but they were uncertain for rest half of the statements.Conclusions:They generally had favorable attitude towards suicide attempters. Their uncertain response highlights the need for enhancing educational exposure of nursing students and new staff at the earliest opportunity, to carve their favorable attitude towards patients presenting with self-harm.

Atitudes relacionadas ao suicídio entre graduandos de enfermagem e fatores associados

“…Such results may support the planning of educational interventions necessary for the improvement of care, since care for suicidal patients is influenced by suicidal beliefs, attitudes, and professional training. (3)(4)(5)7,8) Negative attitudes related to suicidal behavior can promote stigma and discrimination, increase the barriers for seeking treatment, and impair the quality of care offered. (7) The literature, predominantly, points out that health professionals show more negative attitudes towards people with self-mutilation and suicidal behavior (7,15) than other patients.…”

“…(3)(4)(5)(7)(8)(9) The literature indicates the lack of preparation and educational exposure regarding suicide in the undergraduate courses of the health area, and emphasizes the importance of investing in educational interventions related to suicide for health professionals. (10) Therefore, studies that incorporate the understanding of the attitudes of professionals in relation to suicide are necessary (4,11) considering variations among different countries, cultures and epochs. Attitude can be defined as a response to a stimulus that involves cognitive, affective and behavioral components, extending to all aspects of intelligence and behavior.…”

“…(3) The quality of care provided after an attempted suicide is particularly important, as such clients are at greater risk of a new, and successful, suicide attempt. (4) It is important to highlight that the nursing team that acts in emergencies maintains frequent contact with clients after suicide attempts, and plays a central role in the initial management of these cases. (4,5) However, in suicide-related interventions, health professionals present difficulties that involve, among others, lack of planning, inability to manage the risk of suicide, and lack of available resources.…”

“…(4) It is important to highlight that the nursing team that acts in emergencies maintains frequent contact with clients after suicide attempts, and plays a central role in the initial management of these cases. (4,5) However, in suicide-related interventions, health professionals present difficulties that involve, among others, lack of planning, inability to manage the risk of suicide, and lack of available resources. (6) Caring for the suicidal client can be influenced by a variety of factors, including suicide beliefs and attitudes, professional education, the ability to assess suicide risk, and planning of care.…”

Nurses attitudes and beliefs to attempted suicide in Southern India

“…Such data from low and middle income countries is hard to capture and only a few studies from the developing world have examined health professionals' attitude towards suicide attempters. In the main these studies are limited to collecting quantitative data by means of administering questionnaires with little evidence of validation to local population (Sethi and Uppal, 2006;Nebhinani et al , 2013).…”