Open AccessReducing Patient Risk for Suicidal Behaviors with a Safety Bundle of Best Practices with Non-Psychiatric Patients
Author(s) -
Olayemi Akindele
Publication year - 2021
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Dissertations/theses
DOI - 10.46409/sr.ofsb1999
Subject(s) - intervention (counseling) , medicine , rating scale , poison control , suicide prevention , injury prevention , risk assessment , psychiatry , psychology , medical emergency , developmental psychology , computer security , computer science
Practice Problem: Suicide is a public health condition that affects people globally. The increased suicidal behaviors of patients in a medical-surgical unit demanded an effective screening protocol to identify high-risk patients. PICOT: In patients 18 years and older on a medical-surgical unit, does the implementation of the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) tool and application of a Safety Bundle of Best Practices (SBBP) increase early identification of suicide risk with decreased patient self-harm behaviors, compared to the current standard practice of no assessment tool or safety bundle of best practices within 12 weeks? Evidence: Ten studies served as evidence that assessment of early suicidal-risk behaviors decreased patient self-harm. The evidence supported the implementation of the C-SSRS tool and application of the Safety Bundle of Best Practices for the project intervention. Intervention: The intervention consisted of three phases (pre-intervention, intervention, and post-intervention): a) patients were screened with the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS); b) suicidal patients were managed with Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS); and c) a Safety Plan Intervention (SPI) was employed to manage suicidal behaviors. Outcome: At the start of the assessment period, pre-intervention data yielded a C-SSRS risk score mean of 0.81; following the eight-week implementation period, post-intervention data yielded a C-SSRS risk score mean of 0.75. There was a marginally significant difference between the means at pre- and post-intervention, showing a lower suicidal risk at post-intervention, p = 0 .07, t-test result (31) = 1.87. Conclusion: The decrease in patient self-harm behaviors with the implementation of the C-SSRS tool and application of SBBP was not statistically significant (SBBP). However, the decrease did indicate a clinically meaningful improvement in suicidal behavior outcomes after implementation of the intervention.