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The Effects of the Gatekeeper Suicide‐Awareness Program for Nursing Personnel
Author(s) -
Tsai WenPei,
Lin LongYau,
Chang HuiChin,
Yu LiShiuan,
Chou MingChih
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
perspectives in psychiatric care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.538
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1744-6163
pISSN - 0031-5990
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-6163.2010.00278.x
Subject(s) - medicine , suicide prevention , continuing education , psychological intervention , nursing , randomized controlled trial , warning signs , poison control , medical emergency , medical education , transport engineering , engineering , surgery
PURPOSE: This study evaluates whether a short training program can improve nurses' abilities to recognize and effectively respond to patients exhibiting suicidal behavior. DESIGN AND METHODS: The study is a randomized controlled trial. Ninety‐eight nurses in the experimental group attended the regular monthly continuing education class and a 90‐min Gatekeeper Suicide‐Awareness Program. Ninety‐seven nurses in the control group only attended the regular monthly continuing education class. Before and after the different educational interventions, all the nurses were asked to complete a questionnaire to link demographic data and to access their awareness of suicide warning signs and their responses if encountering a potentially suicidal individual. FINDINGS: Nurses who participated in the Gatekeeper Suicide‐Awareness Program were much more aware of suicide warning signs and more willing to refer patients for professional counseling. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: We suggest that nursing personnel's continuing education include a training program for suicide prevention.