Professional Attitudes Towards Suicidal Behavior in Primary Health Care: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the attitudes of health professionals working in Primary Health Care before and after participating in workshops about how to approach people with suicidal behavior. Method: a before-and-after quantitative and quasi-experimental study, conducted in a municipality in the inland of the state of São Paulo from August to September 2019. The sample consisted of 34 workers who answered a Sociodemographic Questionnaire and the Questionnaire on Attitudes towards Suicidal Behavior, applied before and after three workshops on how to approach people with suicidal behavior in the Primary Health Care context. The data were analyzed by means of the Wilcoxon and McNemar tests, considering p<0.05. Results: a statistically significant difference was identified before and after the workshops regarding professional ability (p=0.011), negative feelings towards the patient (p=0.025) and without a category (p=0.006), evidencing the effectiveness of the workshops on how to approach people with suicidal behavior for management and care professionals working in Primary Health Care. Conclusion: the short-term results observed after the workshops point to a change in the professionals' conception and management in relation to people with suicidal behavior. Permanent and continuous training strategies as spaces for learning, reflection and action are fundamental to qualify the approach to people with suicidal behavior.

Nurses’ Attitudes and Perceptions Regarding Suicidal Patients: A Quasi-Experimental Study of Depression Management Training

“…Beyond knowledge and skills, studies have shown that nurses' attitudes can have a significant impact on the quality of care and patient treatment. Research has shown that nurses and primary physicians who hold stigmatizing attitudes and negative beliefs toward mental illness and suicide may be less attuned to warning signs of depression or suicide risk among their patients, and fail to provide appropriate care, such as referral to mental health services or crisis intervention [15,47]. Furthermore, research has consistently demonstrated that healthcare providers tend to hold pessimistic views about the reality and the prospects of recovery, leading them to believe that "what they do doesn't matter" [48].…”

O desafios das equipes médicas e de enfermagem frente ao paciente com comportamento suicida em hospital geral

“…Portanto, podemos afirmar que quando há um contato desses estudantes, com demandas suicidas em sua formação, a chance de desenvolvermos profissionais mais qualificados nesta temática, aumenta significativamente, contribuindo para a construção de novos conhecimentos e a desconstrução de crenças negativas que impedem um tratamento mais preciso e eficaz [9].…”

“…Treinamento adequado e constantes informações sobre o tema é importante para o aprimoramento dos comportamentos e atitudes adotadas pelos profissionais, proporcionando o aumento das habilidades para respostas clínicas compatíveis que permitam a avaliação e gerenciamento de riscos, viabilizando a interação com estes pacientes [9].…”