Change in emergency department providers' beliefs and practices after use of new protocols for suicidal patients

Adapting the Zero Suicide framework to the adult emergency department setting: Strategies for nurse leaders

The ED has been increasingly recognized as a key setting for suicide prevention. Zero Suicide (ZS) is an aspirational goal to eliminate suicide for all patients within a health care system through utilization of best practices. However, there has been limited exploration of ZS implementation within the ED. As ED nurses play an important role in suicide prevention through their close contact with patients at risk for suicide, ZS implementation would benefit from tailored strategies for ED nurse leadership. We describe the ZS framework and provides strategies for nurse leaders to adapt each ZS component in the adult ED.

The Association of Pediatric Emergency Medicine Physicians' Self-Identified Skills in Suicide Risk Assessment and Management With Training in Mental Health

OBJECTIVE

Because changes to pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) education may help address barriers to youth suicide risk screening programs, this study aimed to understand the impact of formal training in areas that likely include suicide-related practices, developmental-behavioral pediatrics (DBP) and adolescent medicine (AM), on PEM physician-perceived level of training, attitudes, and confidence assessing and managing youth suicide risk.

METHODS

Twenty-seven PEM attendings and trainees completed an online survey and were divided into 2 groups: those who had completed DBP and AM rotations (DBP/AM+; n = 20) and those who had not completed either rotation (DBP/AM-; n = 7). We compared perceived level of training, attitudes, and confidence in assessing and managing suicide risk across groups. We also examined the relationship between perceived level of training and confidence. Finally, we conducted exploratory analyses to evaluate the effect of an additional formal rotation in child psychiatry.

RESULTS

The DBP/AM+ and DBP/AM- groups did not differ on perceived level of training or on attitudes and confidence in suicide risk assessment or management. Perceived level of training in assessment and management predicted confidence in both assessing and managing suicide risk. Additional training in child psychiatry was not associated with increased perceived level of training or confidence.

CONCLUSIONS

The DBP and AM rotations were not associated with higher perceived levels of suicide risk training or greater confidence; however, perceived level of training predicted physician confidence, suggesting continued efforts to enhance formal PEM education in mental health would be beneficial.

Firearm-Related Injuries and Deaths in Children and Youth

Firearms are the leading cause of death in children and youth 0 to 24 years of age in the United States. In 2020, firearms resulted in 10,197 deaths (fatality rate 9.91/100,000 youth 0-24 years old). Firearms are the leading mechanism of death in pediatric suicides and homicides. Increased access to firearms is associated with increased rates of firearm deaths. Substantial disparities in firearm injuries and deaths exist by age, gender, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation and gender identity and for deaths related to legal intervention. Barriers to firearm access can decrease the risk to youth for firearm suicide, homicide, or unintentional shooting injury and death. Given the high lethality of firearms and the impulsivity associated with suicidal ideation, removing firearms from the home or securely storing them-referred to as lethal means restriction of firearms-is critical, especially for youth at risk for suicide. Primary care-, emergency department-, mental health-, hospital-, and community-based intervention programs can effectively screen and intervene for individuals at risk for harming themselves or others. The delivery of anticipatory guidance coupled with safety equipment provision improves firearm safer storage. Strong state-level firearm legislation is associated with decreased rates of firearm injuries and death. This includes legislation focused on comprehensive firearm licensing strategies and extreme risk protection order laws. A firm commitment to confront this public health crisis with a multipronged approach engaging all stakeholders, including individuals, families, clinicians, health systems, communities, public health advocates, firearm owners and nonowners, and policy makers, is essential to address the worsening firearm crisis facing US youth today.

Feasibility of Peer-Delivered Suicide Safety Planning in the Emergency Department: Results From a Pilot Trial

OBJECTIVE

The emergency department (ED) is an important site for suicide prevention efforts, and safety planning has been identified as a best practice for suicide prevention among ED patients at increased suicide risk. However, few ED clinicians are prepared to assess suicide risk or guide patients in the creation of safety plans. This study was a pilot randomized controlled trial of the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of safety planning by individuals with lived experience of suicide attempt or of severe suicidal ideation but without medical training (i.e., peers) in the ED.

METHODS

Patients at risk for suicide in a general ED were randomly assigned to receive peer-delivered or mental health provider–delivered safety planning. Intervention feasibility measures included ED length of stay, safety plan completeness, and safety plan quality. Acceptability measures included patient satisfaction. Preliminary effects were assessed as number of ED returns within the 3 months after the ED visit.

RESULTS

Data from 31 participants were available for analysis. Compared with participants with provider-delivered safety planning, participants with peer-delivered safety planning had similar ED lengths of stay, higher safety plan completeness, and higher safety plan quality. Acceptability of the safety planning process was similar for the two groups. Compared with participants receiving provider-delivered safety planning, participants receiving peer-delivered planning had significantly fewer ED visits during the subsequent 3 months than during the 3 months preceding the ED visit.

CONCLUSIONS

Peer-delivered safety planning is feasible and acceptable and may result in fewer return ED visits. These findings provide preliminary support for peer-delivered safety planning in the ED.

Taking Aim at the Injury Prevention Curriculum: Educating Residents on Talking to Patients About Firearm Injury

The medical community recognizes that firearm injury is a public health problem. Yet we lack both the tools for and the implementation of evidence-based firearm injury screening and counseling techniques. One reason for these deficits is the lack of clinical training related to engaging patients in firearm injury risk reduction. In this issue, Rickert et al describe a pre-post evaluation of a 2-part firearm injury prevention training curriculum for first-year medical residents at a single academic medical center. Their manuscript serves an important, but still preliminary, step forward for the field of postgraduate medical education on firearm injury and its prevention. Important elements of this project and paper consist of the inclusion of multiple medical disciplines and the use of standardized patients to evaluate participants' learning. This project also points to the need for further growth. We must commit to consistently and conscientiously framing injuries from guns not as "gun violence" but rather as "firearm injuries" to ensure that they are considered squarely in both the public health space and the clinical space. An ideal curriculum would also highlight the importance of trauma-informed care, cultural competency, and antiracist medical practice while countering implicit biases (e.g., toward gun owners, victims of firearm violence, perpetrators of violence). It should address barriers, as well as facilitators, to change. And most importantly, future educational work must evaluate the effect of these trainings on actual clinical practice-and, even better, the efficacy of education in changing behavior and patient-level outcomes.

Assessment and care of individuals at risk of suicide in Emergency Department: The SecUrgence protocol

Almost half (48,5%) of all individuals who die by suicide visited the Emergency Department (ED) in the year preceding their death by suicide and for almost a third (29,5%) of these individuals, the ED visit occurred within the month preceding their death by suicide. The ED is a key location for suicide prevention. The aim of this study was to develop and reach a consensus on the SecUrgence Protocol, a clinical protocol that intends to assess and provide care for individuals at risk of suicide that present themselves to the ED. This project was conducted in 3 stages: 1) Review of the literature, 2) Development of the list of the protocol statements by a first panel of experts, and 3) Validation, using the Delphi consensus method, on the final statements to include in the SecUrgence Protocol by a second panel of experts. Two rounds of the Delphi questionnaire were conducted until a final consensus of over 75% was reached. The SecUrgence Protocol is a first scientific step towards improving suicide prevention in the ED in Quebec as it was validated by a rigorous research process that included a consensus by all key stakeholders.

Provider opinions of the acceptability of Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) Tool and the ASQ Brief Suicide Safety Assessment (BSSA) for universal suicide risk screening in community healthcare: Potential barriers and necessary elements for future implementation

A convenience sample of community health care providers (N = 19) was asked to preview and rate the acceptability of the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) tool and the ASQ Brief Suicide Safety Assessment (BSSA) guide. Providers were also asked about potential barriers to implementation. The majority of participants stated they would be comfortable screening for suicide with the ASQ tool (78.9%; N = 15), that they would recommend the ASQ tool and the BSSA to colleagues (84.2%; N = 16), and that they were "satisfied" or "highly satisfied" with the ASQ and BSSA (88.2%; N = 13). Barriers to implementation reported included a lack of knowledge regarding suicide risk screening and lack of access to behavioral health resources. Education regarding the ASQ, the BSSA, and suicide risk screening are highlighted as crucial elements for future implementation.

The Impact of Universal Mental Health Screening on Pediatric Emergency Department Flow

OBJECTIVE AND HYPOTHESIS

Assess the impact of universal mental health screening with MyHEARTSMAP on emergency department (ED) flow, an important aspect of feasibility. We hypothesized that the difference in departmental level ED length of stay (LOS) for screening and matched nonscreening days is less than 30 minutes.

METHODS

We conducted a 2-center, retrospective cohort study between December 2017 and June 2019. At each center, random mental health screening days were assigned over the course of 15 consecutive months. We matched each 24-hour screening day to a unique nonscreening day based on: location (Center 1 or Center 2); day type (weekday: Monday-Thursday or weekend: Friday-Sunday); date (±28 days); and 24-hour volume (±15 patients). We collected retrospective patient flow data, including LOS, across all ED visits to determine the difference in departmental level median LOS between matched screening and nonscreening days.

RESULTS

There was not a statistically significant difference in departmental LOS between screening and nonscreening days. Overall, the difference in departmental LOS was -4.0 minutes (95% confidence interval, -9.8, 1.8) for screening days compared to nonscreening days, with a difference of -2.0 minutes (-9.0, 4.9) at Center 1 and -6.0 minutes (-15.4, 3.4) at Center 2.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings show that universal mental health screening with MyHEARTSMAP can be implemented without a significant impact of ED LOS.

Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk in Autistic Youth: Findings from a Clinician Survey in a Pediatric Psychiatric Emergency Setting

Suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB) and emergency department (ED) utilization are prevalent in autistic youth. The current study surveyed clinicians in a pediatric psychiatric ED to examine differences in attitudes on suicide-related care for autistic and non-autistic patient populations. While clinicians rated addressing STB in ASD as important and adaptations to care as necessary, less than half identified ASD as a suicide risk factor and confidence ratings were significantly lower for autistic patients. Previous ASD training predicted confidence and accounted for approximately 25% of the variance in confidence scores. Findings highlight the urgency to develop and disseminate ED clinician training, and address the lack of validated assessment tools, adapted suicide prevention practices, and evidence-based treatments for STB in autistic youth.

Interventions to change clinicians' behavior related to suicide-prevention care in the emergency department: a scoping review

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this scoping review was to explore, characterize, and map the literature on interventions and intervention components implemented to change emergency department clinicians' behavior related to suicide prevention using the Behaviour Change Wheel as a guiding theoretical framework.

INTRODUCTION

An emergency department is a critical place for suicide prevention, yet patients are often discharged without proper suicide risk assessments and/or referrals. In response, we must support emergency department clinicians' behavior change to follow evidence-based suicide prevention strategies. However, reviews to date have yet to systematically and theoretically examine interventions' functional characteristics and how they can influence emergency department clinicians' behaviors related to suicide-prevention care.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

This review considered interventions that targeted emergency department clinicians' behavior change related to suicide prevention. Behavior change referred to observable practice changes as well as proxy measures of behavior change, including changes in knowledge and attitude.

METHODS

This review followed JBI methodology for scoping reviews. Searches included PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Embase, and gray literature, including targeted Google searches for relevant organizations/websites, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, and Scopus conference papers (using a specific filter). This review did not apply any date limits, but our search was limited to the English language. Data extraction was undertaken using a charting table developed specifically for the review objective. Narrative descriptions of interventions were coded using the Behavior Change Wheel's intervention functions. Reported outcome measures were categorized. Findings are tabulated and synthesized narratively.

RESULTS

Forty-one studies were included from the database searches, representing a mixture of experimental (n = 2), quasi-experimental (n = 24), non-experimental (n = 12), qualitative (n = 1), and mixed methods (n = 2) approaches. An additional 29 citations were included from gray literature searches. One was a pilot mixed methods study, and the rest were interventions. In summary, this review included a total of 70 citations, describing 66 different interventions. Identified interventions comprised a wide range of Behaviour Change Wheel intervention functions to change clinicians' behavior: education (n = 48), training (n = 40), enablement (n = 36), persuasion (n = 21), environmental restructuring (n = 18), modeling (n = 7), and incentivisation (n = 2). Based on the Behaviour Change Wheel analysis, many interventions targeted more than one determinant of behavior change, often employing education and training to improve clinicians' knowledge and skills simultaneously. Among the 42 studies that reported outcome measures, effectiveness was measured at clinician (n = 38), patient (n = 4), and/or organization levels (n = 6). Few studies reported implementation outcomes, such as measures of reach (n = 4), adoption (n = 5), or fidelity (n = 1). There were no evaluation data reported on the interventions identified through Google searches.

CONCLUSIONS

Interventions included in this review were diverse and leveraged a range of mechanisms to change emergency department clinicians' behavior. However, most interventions relied solely on education and/or training to improve clinicians' knowledge and/or skills. Future research should consider diverse intervention functions to target both individual- and/or organization-level barriers for a given context. Secondly, the ultimate goal for changing emergency department clinicians' behavior is to improve patient health outcomes related to suicide-related thoughts and behaviors, but current research has most commonly evaluated clinicians' behavior in isolation of patient outcomes. Future studies should consider reporting patient-level outcomes alongside clinician-level outcomes.

"Lock and Protect": Development of a Digital Decision Aid to Support Lethal Means Counseling in Parents of Suicidal Youth

Objective: Reducing access to lethal methods is an effective suicide prevention strategy that is often neglected in routine care. Digital interventions have shown promise for addressing such gaps in care; and decision aids have proven useful for supporting complicated health-related decisions, like those involving lethal means restriction. This article describes a parent/caregiver-facing web-based decision aid, the development process, and user testing. Method: A user-centered, participatory, mixed methods development design was employed. Beginning with an adult-focused decision aid developed by members of our team, we assessed ten iterations of the parent/caregiver decision aid with stakeholders (N = 85) using qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys. Stakeholders included: parents/caregivers whose children had histories of suicidal episodes before age 25, young adults with histories of suicidal thoughts/behaviors, firearm owners/representatives from firearm stores/ranges/groups, mental and medical health care providers, and emergency responders. Results: The final "Lock and Protect" decision aid was viewed as "useful for changing access to lethal means" by 100% of participants. Ninety-four percent of participants rated the information on reducing access to lethal means as good to excellent, and 91% rated the information on storage options as good to excellent. Qualitative feedback underscored a preference for offering this digital tool with a "human touch," as part of safety and discharge planning. Conclusions: "Lock and Protect" is a user-friendly web-based tool with potential for improving rates of lethal means counseling for parents/caregivers of suicidal youth and ultimately reducing pre-mature deaths by suicide.

Adherence to guideline creation recommendations for suicide prevention in the emergency department: A systematic review

OBJECTIVES

Suicide rates in the United States rose 35.2% from 1999-2018. As emergency department (ED) providers often have limited training in management of suicidal patients and minimal access to mental health experts, clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) may improve care for these patients. However, clinical practice guidelines that do not adhere to quality standards for development may be harmful both to patients, if they promote practices based on flawed evidence, and to ED providers, if used in malpractice claims. In 2011, the Institute of Medicine created standards to determine the trustworthiness of CPGs. This review assessed the adherence of suicide prevention CPGs, intended for the ED, to these standards. Secondary objectives were to assess the association of adherence both with first author/organization specialty (ED vs non-ED) and with inclusion of recommendations on substance use, a potent risk factor for suicide.

METHODS

This is a systematic review of available suicide-prevention CPGs for the ED in both peer-reviewed and gray literature. This review followed the PRISMA standards for reporting systematic reviews.

RESULTS

Of 22 included CPGs, the 7 ED-sponsored CPGs had higher adherence to quality standards (3.1 vs 2.4) and included the highest-rated CPG (ICAR²E) identified by this review. Regardless of specialty, nearly all CPGs included some mention of identifying or managing substance use.

CONCLUSIONS

Most suicide prevention CPGs intended for the ED are written by non-ED first authors or organizations and have low adherence to quality standards. Future CPGs should be developed with more scientific rigor, include a multidisciplinary writing group, and be created by authors working in the practice environment to which the CPG applies.

Universal suicide risk screening: Views of rural adults on acceptability and implementation in primary care

OBJECTIVE

This study gathered data from rural adult primary care patients regarding the acceptability of universal suicide risk screening and preferred methods of implementation.

METHOD

Patients from a rural primary care clinic in southern West Virginia participating in a pilot test of a suicide risk screening program were administered a Screening Opinions Survey and resulting data were evaluated using descriptive and content analyses.

RESULTS

The majority of participants (96%) believed that primary care providers (PCPs) should screen patients for suicide and noted multiple benefits to screening. Most participants described the experience of screening in primary care as positive or neutral and preferred a personalized screening process where the provider asked questions directly. Demographic analyses indicated that males and older adults were less likely to report being previously screened for suicide and that older adults were less likely to support the practice of screening.

CONCLUSIONS

Results provide support for the acceptability of universal suicide risk screening programs to patients in rural primary care and suggest that PCP involvement in the screening process may encourage patient participation. Additional training for PCPs and psychoeducational interventions for older adults may help to address demographic influences on screening practices and engagement.

What are Canadian emergency physicians' attitudes and self-perceived competence toward patients who present with suicidal ideation?

INTRODUCTION

Suicide is the 9th leading cause of death in Canada, and a common reason for patients to present to Canadian emergency departments (ED). Little knowledge exists around Canadian emergency physicians (EPs) attitudes toward and understanding of individuals with suicidal ideation.

METHODS

We developed a web-based survey on suicide knowledge, which was pilot tested by two EPs and one psychiatrist for clarity and content. The survey was distributed via email to attending physician members of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians. Data were described using counts, means, medians and interquartile ranges. The Understanding of Suicidal Patients (USP) Scale is an 11-point questionnaire to assess healthcare providers' attitudes toward individuals with suicidal ideation. Other questions pertaining to suicidal ideation, self-perceptions on ability to treat suicidal patients, and personal experiences with suicide were asked in Likert format.

RESULTS

One hundred eighty-eight Canadian EPs responded to the survey (15% response rate), with a median age of 49 (IQR 39-55), academic practice reported by 55% of respondents, and 65% of respondents identified as male. The mean USP score was 21.8 (95% CI 21.1-22.5), which indicates a generally positive attitude and willingness to provide care for suicidal patients. Only 17% of respondents had participated in specific training for treatment of suicidal patients in the last five years, while the majority of respondents estimate treating 5-15 patients with suicidal ideation a month. Sixty four percent of respondents indicated they had the skills to screen patients for suicidal ideation, but less than one-third felt they could create a personalized safety plan for patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Respondents have a generally positive attitude toward treating individuals with suicidal ideation. Respondents scored highly on the USP scale that measured willingness to provide care for and empathize with suicidal patients. Respondents felt they had the skills to adequately screen patients for suicidal ideation. Key gaps in knowledge were identified suggesting improved residency and ongoing medical education opportunities are needed to better improve care for this vulnerable population.

Lethal Means Counseling for Suicidal Adults in the Emergency Department: A Qualitative Study

Introduction

Lethal means counseling (to reduce access to firearms or other suicide methods) is a recommended critical yet challenging component of care of suicidal patients. Questions remain about communication strategies for those in acute crisis.

Methods

This qualitative study was an analysis of semi-structured interviews with English-speaking, community-dwelling adults with a history of lived-experience of suicidal ideation or attempts in themselves or a family member. We used a mixed inductive and deductive approach to identify descriptive themes related to communication and decision-making.

Results

Among 27 participants, 14 (52%) had personal and 23 (85%) had family experience with suicide ideation or attempts. Emergent themes fell into two domains: (1) communication in a state of high emotionality; and (2) specific challenges in communication: initiating, maintaining engagement, considering context.

Conclusion

Engaging suicidal individuals in lethal means counseling may be more effective when messaging and approaches consider their emotional state and communication challenges.

Antipsychotics as a method of suicide: population based follow-up study of suicide in Northern Finland

AIM

This study examined the trend and role of antipsychotics as a method of self-poisoning suicide.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The basic data covered 483 poisoning suicides, occurring between the years 1988 and 2011, in Northern Finland, of which 178 (115 men, 63 women) were completed using antipsychotics.

RESULTS

During the 23-year follow-up period, second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) overtook first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs) as a suicide method. Female victims, compared to males, had more commonly used quetiapine (17.5% vs. 6.1%, p = .016), while suicides using promazine were more common in males compared to females (36.5% vs. 22.2%, p = .049). People with unipolar depression had more frequently used SGAs (40.0%) or a combination of SGAs and FGAs (12.5%) than FGAs (19.2%) (p = .019) in their suicides.

CONCLUSION

The use of SGAs in suicides is becoming increasingly common, which calls for further studies.

Lethal Means Assessment and Counseling in the Emergency Department: Differences by Provider Type and Personal Home Firearms

OBJECTIVE

This study examined emergency department (ED) and behavioral health (BH) provider attitudes and behaviors related to lethal means screening and counseling of patients with suicide risk, specifically examining differences by provider type and whether providers had firearms in their own home.

METHODS

Emergency department providers (physicians and mid-level practitioners) and behavioral health (BH) providers at four Colorado EDs completed an anonymous, web-based survey.

RESULTS

Fewer ED providers (35%) than BH providers (81%) felt confident in their ability to counsel patients about lethal means (p < .001). In multivariable analysis, the only clinical or provider factor associated with often or almost always asking patients about firearm access was provider type, with BH providers more likely than ED providers to ask in all scenarios (OR: 5.58, 95% CI 1.68-18.6). Behaviors and attitudes about lethal means counseling did not vary by whether the provider had firearms at home. Almost all providers said that additional training and protocols about how to help patients make firearm storage decisions would be helpful.

CONCLUSIONS

Gaps in ED-delivered lethal means counseling persist, highlighting directions for future provider education and protocol development.

Impact of Around-the-Clock Mental Health Staffing on Emergency Department Management of Patients Who Deliberately Self-Harm

OBJECTIVE

Emergency departments (EDs) offer opportunities to deliver critical frontline suicide prevention services via assessment, safety planning, and linkages with community-based mental health care after discharge. Because mental health crises can occur at any time, this study sought to evaluate whether around-the-clock mental health staffing in the ED influences the likelihood of providing these evidence-based mental health services.

METHODS

ED nursing leadership from a national sample of 406 hospitals completed a survey on the ED management of patients who deliberately self-harm, including availability of mental health staff (psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, psychologists, social workers, other mental health professionals). Analyses examined whether around-the-clock mental health staffing was associated with provision of key assessments, safety planning, and discharge practices, controlling for hospital characteristics.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in the extent to which EDs with and without around-the-clock mental health staff routinely completed recommended assessment practices (71% and 70%, respectively). EDs with around-the-clock mental health staff were more likely than their counterparts to routinely provide two recommended safety planning practices (59% vs. 27%, p<0.001; adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=3.76) and were more likely to routinely schedule follow-up outpatient care (44% vs. 21%, p=0.002; AOR=3.26).

CONCLUSIONS

Around-the-clock mental health coverage in the ED is associated with routine provision of key safety planning and discharge practices. EDs should have consistent access to staff either in person or remotely to facilitate the delivery of evidence-based mental health practices.

PCP Opinions of Universal Suicide Risk Screening in Rural Primary Care: Current Challenges and Strategies for Successful Implementation

PURPOSE

Universal suicide risk screening has the potential to address the disproportionately high rates of suicide in the rural United States, as 83% of people who have died by suicide have visited a health care provider in the year prior to their deaths, and rural patients are more likely to visit medical professionals than behavioral health professionals for mental health concerns. This study describes the opinions of primary care providers (PCPs) practicing in a primarily rural state regarding universal suicide risk screening, barriers to implementation, and strategies to increase the feasibility of screening in their practices.

METHODS

In-depth, individual semistructured qualitative interviews were conducted with a sample of PCPs practicing in West Virginia (N = 15). Applied thematic analysis of the data was completed by a team of 3 coders using a consensus-coding methodology.

FINDINGS

The majority of PCPs supported the practice of screening, but they identified multiple barriers, including a lack of access to mental health and crisis support services, concerns about clinic flow and follow-up with suicidal patients, cultural beliefs specific to rural Appalachia, and provider discomfort with screening. Strategies suggested to address these barriers included the use of technology for screening, a multidisciplinary team approach, streamlined methods for screening and risk assessment, co-located behavioral health, and additional trainings for PCPs on the topic of suicide.

CONCLUSION

Future research should examine the efficacy of universal suicide risk screening programs in rural adult primary care that utilize these strategies in diverse samples with longitudinal data.

Self-Harm, Suicidal Ideation, and Attempted Suicide in Older Adults: A National Study of Emergency Department Visits and Follow-Up Care

OBJECTIVE

Emergency department visits for self-harm and suicidal ideation have increased for US older adults. The purpose of this study was to examine discharge disposition, clinical recognition of mental disorder, and 30-day follow-up mental health outpatient care of older adults treated in emergency departments for suicide attempt (SA), suicidal ideation (SI), or deliberate self-harm (DSH).

METHODS

Retrospective cohort analysis using 2015 Medicare claims for adults ≥65 years of age with suicide-related emergency encounters (N = 52,383). Demographic, clinical, and service use characteristics from claims were merged with county-level Area Health Resource File data. Rates and adjusted risk ratios were assessed for discharge to the community, mental health diagnosis in the emergency department, and outpatient mental health visits with 30 days after the emergency encounter.

RESULTS

Encounters for SA (7.8%) and SI (17.2%) were less likely than those for DSH (29.1%) to be discharged to the community. Among community discharges, SA (95.6%) and SI (95.1%) encounters were more likely than DSH (52.3%) encounters to be diagnosed with a mental disorder in the emergency department. Encounters for SA (52.1%) and SI (59.9%) were also more likely than DSH (31.3%) encounters to receive follow-up mental care.

CONCLUSIONS

Although most older adults treated in EDs for suicide-related reasons are hospitalized, a substantial proportion of patients discharged back to the community do not receive follow-up mental healthcare within 30 days.

The Feasibility and Impact of a Suicide Risk Screening Program in Rural Adult Primary Care: A Pilot Test of the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions Toolkit

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and impact of a suicide risk screening program in a rural West Virginia primary care practice.

METHODS

Patients presenting for routine and sick visits were asked to participate in electronic suicide risk screening using the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions tool; screen positive individuals were assessed with the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions Brief Suicide Safety Assessment. Screening program feasibility was evaluated by the proportion of patients consenting to participate, participant Ask Suicide-Screening Questions and Brief Suicide Safety Assessment completion rates, and response to a question asking whether primary care providers should ask about suicide. Screening impact was evaluated quasi-experimentally by comparing electronic medical record documentation of suicide risk screening, assessment, and risk determination in practice patients before and after implementing the screening program.

RESULTS

Over half of the patients approached agreed to participate in a research study about suicide (N = 196; 57.7%). Feasibility of the screening program was demonstrated by the high completion rates for the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (99.0%) and the Brief Suicide Safety Assessment (100.0%) among study participants. Additionally, 95.4% (N = 187) of participants agreed primary care providers should screen patients for suicide. Suicide screening rates rose significantly between the baseline and intervention phases (5.8% to 61.0%; X² = 200.61, P < 0.001), as did suicide risk detection rates (0.7% to 6.2%; X² = 12.58, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Suicide risk screening was feasible and well accepted by adult patients in rural primary care and has potential to improve suicide risk detection in this setting.

Assessing psychiatric safety in suicidal emergency department patients

We provide a review of the assessment of suicidal emergency department patients and includes a legal and ethical perspective. Screening tools and psychiatric consultation are important adjuncts to the ED evaluation of potentially suicidal patients. Suicide risk should be assessed, and if positive, an appropriate and safe disposition should be arranged. The aim of this article is to review these assessment tools and consider ethical issues, such as patient autonomy, accountability of the emergency physician, and consultant to Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) as well as confidentiality, privacy, and social issues.

Successful Suicide Screening in the Pediatric Emergency Department: Youth, Parent, Researcher, and Clinician Perspectives

The purpose of this study was to include youth, parents, researchers, and clinicians in the identification of feasible and acceptable strategies for teen suicide screening in the pediatric emergency department (ED). Concept mapping methodology was used to elicit stakeholder responses. Regarding the most important result of suicide screening for teens in the pediatric ED, suicide prevention and education for parents, friends, and community members was rated easiest to implement, while short- and long-term follow-up and treatment was rated most important. In terms of successful suicide screening for teens in the pediatric ED, provision of resources and information was rated most feasible, and a safe, friendly, private screening environment was rated most important. The concept maps can be used to align suicide risk screening with the priorities and recommendations of pediatric ED stakeholders.

Access to Firearms Among People Assessed by Psychiatric Services in the Emergency Department

OBJECTIVE

In Canada, 80% of firearm-related deaths are suicides. Access to firearms is associated with increased suicide rates. This study examines the frequency and factors that influence assessment of firearm access in an emergency setting.

METHODS

A total of 15,847 consecutive adults seen for psychiatric consultation in two tertiary emergency departments (EDs) in Winnipeg, Manitoba were interviewed. Data captured whether access to firearms was assessed, and whether respondents endorsed access or not. Comparisons were done to determine group differences among those with and without and with known and unknown firearm access.

RESULTS

Access to firearms was unknown in 47% (n = 7,363) of psychiatric ED consultations, including 43% (n = 998) of individuals who presented with a suicide attempt. Female sex was associated with decreased odds of firearm access (odds ratio [OR] 0.28; 95% CI, 0.22 to 0.35). Being single was associated with lower odds of known firearm access (OR 0.83; 95% CI, 0.77 to 0.89) yet higher likelihood of firearm access (OR 1.36; 95% CI, 1.11 to 1.68). Presenting with a suicide attempt (OR 2.45; 95% CI, 1.80 to 3.34), preparatory acts (OR 6.40; 95% CI, 4.38 to 9.36) and suicidal ideation (OR 2.45; 95% CI, 1.87 to 3.21) were associated with increased odds of reporting access. When clinicians felt there was a high likelihood of future suicide, firearm access remained unknown in half of cases.

CONCLUSION

Firearm ownership and access is an essential component of a suicide risk assessment and remains unknown in half of individuals seen by psychiatry in this tertiary care ED sample. People presenting with suicidal ideation and attempts were more likely to report access to firearms.

Suicide prevention by emergency nurses: perceived self-efficacy in assessment, management and referral at Kenyatta National Hospital in Kenya

BACKGROUND

Emergency Departments are underutilized settings for suicide prevention and management as patients with occult (camouflaged) suicides and suicidal ideation are rarely screened by nurses and other health workers in these sites. The under-detection rates could be a result of lack of suicide assessment and management confidence among the hospital staff. The aim of the study was to find out the perceived self-efficacy in suicide risk assessment, management and referral among nurses working in an emergency department within a lower income country.

METHOD

The Risk Assessment and Management Self-Efficacy Scale (RAMSES) was administered among nurses in an emergency department (ED) within an urban region in a descriptive study. The risk assessment, management and referral domains among 64 respondents were evaluated using mean and standard deviation calculations in SPSS v 21.

RESULTS

The total RAMSES composite score in risk assessment, management and referral was 6.19 (SD 2.107) with risk assessment having the lowest mean score of 6.09 (SD 2.08), while risk referral process mean score was the highest at 6.55 (SD 2.36). The nurses had the least confidence in developing a written risk management plan 5.68 (SD 2.51) as well as using screening instruments to assess risk 5.90 (SD 2.15).

FINDINGS

Nurses in emergency department have below average self-efficacy in suicide assessment and management necessitating training as well as integration of protocols that could enhance effective utilization of emergency departments as suicide prevention and management settings.

Physician Documentation of Access to Firearms in Suicidal Patients in the Emergency Department

Introduction

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. An estimated 50% of these deaths are due to firearms. Suicidal ideation (SI) is a common complaint presenting to the emergency department (ED). Despite these facts, provider documentation on access to lethal means is lacking. Our primary aim was to quantify documentation of access to firearms in patients presenting to the ED with a chief complaint of SI.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study of consecutive patients, nearly all of whom presented to an academic, urban ED with SI during July 2014. We collected data from all provider documentation in the electronic health record. Primary outcome assessed was whether the emergency physician (EP) team documented access to firearms. Secondary outcomes included demographic information, preexisting psychiatric diagnoses, and disposition.

Results

We reviewed 100 patient charts. The median age of patients was 38 years. The majority of patients had a psychiatric condition. EPs documented access to firearms in only 3% of patient charts.

Conclusion

EPs do not adequately document access to firearms in patients with SI. There is a clear need for educational initiatives regarding risk-factor assessment and counseling against lethal means in this patient cohort.

Applying Computer Adaptive Testing Methods to Suicide Risk Screening in the Emergency Department

OBJECTIVE

Combine test theory with technology to develop brief, reliable suicide risk measures in the emergency department.

METHODS

A computer adaptive test for suicide risk was built using the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation and tested among the emergency department population. Data were analyzed from a sample of 1,350 patients in several Massachusetts emergency departments. The test was built as outlined by the National Institutes of Health Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System.

RESULTS

Of 1,350 patients, 74 (5%) scored above the cutoff of BSS > 2. Item 2, "Wish to die", was the most informative item. When using only Item 2, 20% (n = 15/74) of at-risk patients and 3% (n = 40/1,276) of not-at-risk patients were misclassified. Patients were classified after four items with computer adaptive testing trait estimates highly comparable to those of the full scale. The precision rule model did not reduce the scale.

CONCLUSIONS

This study models the creation of a computer adaptive test for suicide ideation and marks the start of the development of computer adaptive tests as a novel suicide risk screening tool in the emergency department. Computer adaptive tests hold promise for revolutionizing behavioral health screening by addressing barriers including time and knowledge deficits.

Deliberate self-harm in older adults: A national analysis of US emergency department visits and follow-up care

OBJECTIVE

To examine mental health care received by older adults following emergency department (ED) visits for deliberate self-harm.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort analysis examined 2015 Medicare claims for adults ≥65 years of age with ED visits for deliberate self-harm (N = 16 495). We estimated adjusted risk ratios (ARR) for discharge disposition, ED coding of mental disorder, and 30-day follow-up mental health outpatient care.

RESULTS

Most patients (76.9%) were hospitalized with lower likelihoods observed for African American patients (ARR = 0.86, 99% CI = 0.79-0.94) and patients with either one medical comorbidity (ARR = 0.91, 99% CI = 0.83-0.99) or two to three comorbidities (ARR = 0.93, 99% CI = 0.88-0.99). Hospitalization was associated with recent depression (ARR = 1.09, 99% CI = 1.03-1.16) and recent psychiatric inpatient care (ARR = 1.13, 99% CI = 1.04-1.22). Among patients discharged to the community (n = 3818), 56.4% received an ED mental disorder diagnosis. Predictors of an ED mental disorder diagnosis included younger age (65-69 years; ARR = 1.53, 99% CI = 1.31-1.78), recent mental health care in ED (ARR = 1.50, 99% CI = 1.29-1.74) or outpatient (ARR = 1.62, 99% CI = 1.44-1.82) settings, recent diagnosis of mental disorder (ARR = 1.61, 99% CI = 1.43-1.80), and other/unknown lethality methods of self-harm (ARR = 1.24, 99% CI = 1.01-1.52). Among community discharged patients, 39.0% received 30-day follow-up outpatient mental health care, which was most strongly predicted by an ED diagnosis of mental disorder (ARR = 2.65, 99% CI = 2.25-3.12) and prior outpatient mental health care (ARR = 2.62, 99% CI = 2.28-3.00).

CONCLUSION

Most older adult Medicare beneficiaries who present to EDs with self-harm are hospitalized. Of those who are discharged to the community, many are not diagnosed with mental disorder in the ED or receive timely follow-up mental health care.

Counseling Suicidal Patients About Access to Lethal Means: Attitudes of Emergency Nurse Leaders

INTRODUCTION

For ED patients at risk of suicide, counseling to reduce access to lethal means (including firearms) is recommended yet not routine. To enhance practice uptake, we sought to examine the attitudes and beliefs of emergency nurse leaders concerning the acceptability and effectiveness of lethal-means counseling.

METHODS

We invited a nurse leader (ED nurse manager or Chief Nursing Officer [CNO]) at each hospital-based emergency department in the 8-state Mountain West region of the United States to complete a closed-ended telephone survey. Questions assessed current practices and leaders' views on suicide prevention and lethal-means counseling. Reponses were weighted to all eligible hospitals to adjust for nonresponse.

RESULTS

From 363 eligible hospitals, 190 emergency nurse leaders responded (overall response rate: 52%). Emergency nurse leaders thought providers at their emergency departments did an excellent job of safety counseling (74%) for suicidal patients. Most respondents believed that talking about firearms with suicidal patients is acceptable to patients (77%), supported by hospital administration (64%), effective in preventing suicide (69%), and something that providers should do (91%). However, the majority also had doubts about whether suicide is preventable (60%).

DISCUSSION

Despite expressing high levels of support for the acceptability and effectiveness of lethal-means counseling, high proportions of emergency nurse leaders expressed skepticism regarding the preventability of suicide, a finding consistent with previous work. Our results support the need to address and modify misperceptions about prevention of suicide in any efforts for widespread implementation and dissemination of lethal-means counseling.

Steps to Achieve Universal Suicide Screening in Emergency Departments: A Call to Action

American individuals attempt suicide at alarmingly high rates of approximately 1.1 million times per year. Yet the United States has failed to adopt a systematic approach to suicide prevention, particularly via universal screening. Given the increasing number of individuals with suicidal ideation presenting to emergency departments (EDs), all patients who present to the ED for treatment should be screened, as opposed to only individuals with mental health complaints. In the current article, barriers to suicide screening in the ED are discussed, as well as strategies to move ED providers toward the goal of universal screening. The current article entreats nurses to be leaders in achieving universal screening and provides practical actions to begin the process. Specific recommendations for action include improving training, increasing lethal means assessment, and achieving compliance with The Joint Commission suicide screening guidelines. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 56(10), 21-26.].

Improving suicide risk assessment in the emergency department through physician education and a suicide risk assessment prompt

OBJECTIVE

To determine the efficacy of two interventions on suicide risk assessment within emergency departments (EDs) on improving the documentation of suicide risk factors by emergency medicine and psychiatric physicians during suicide risk assessment.

METHOD

An educational intervention on suicide was provided to all emergency medicine and psychiatry physicians and was followed by the placement of a suicide risk assessment prompt within local EDs. The medical charts of all ED patients presenting with suicidal ideation or behaviours were reviewed immediately and six months after the interventions and compared to pre-intervention. Differences in the documentation of 40 biopsychosocial suicide risk factors between specialties and after the interventions were determined.

RESULTS

The documentation of 34/40 (p ≤ 0.008) and 33/40 (p ≤ 0.009) suicide risk factors was significantly improved by emergency medicine and psychiatry physicians, respectively, after the interventions and maintained six months later. Immediately and six months after the interventions, the documentation of 8/40 (p ≤ 0.041) and 14/40 (p ≤ 0.048) suicide risk factors, respectively, significantly differed between specialties.

CONCLUSION

This suggests that providing a brief educational intervention on suicide to emergency medicine and psychiatry physicians followed by placing a prompt for important, yet commonly undocumented risk factors within the ED is a low-cost and effective intervention for improving documentation of suicide risk assessments within the ED.

Suicide Risk Screening in Healthcare Settings: Identifying Males and Females at Risk

Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for more than 42,000 deaths in 2014. Although this tragedy cuts across groups defined by age, gender, race/ethnicity, and geographic location, it is striking that nearly four times as many males as females die by suicide in the U.S. We describe the current regulations and recommendations for suicide risk screening in healthcare systems and also describe the aspirational goal of "Zero Suicide," put forth by the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention. We then provide information about suicide risk screening tools and steps to take when a patient screens positive for suicide risk. Given the substantially higher suicide rate among males than females, we argue that it is important to consider how we could optimize suicide risk screening strategies to identify males at risk and females at risk. Further research is needed to accomplish this goal. It is recommended that we consider multi-factorial suicide risk screens that incorporate risk factors known to be particularly important for males as well as computerized, adaptive screens that are tailored for the specific risk considerations of the individual patient, male or female. These strategies are not mutually exclusive. Finally, universal suicide risk screening in healthcare settings, especially primary care, specialty medical care, and emergency department settings, is recommended.

The Zero Suicide Model: Applying Evidence-Based Suicide Prevention Practices to Clinical Care

Suicide is reaching epidemic proportions, with over 44,000 deaths by suicide in the US, and 800,000 worldwide in 2015. This, despite research and development of evidence-based interventions that target suicidal behavior directly. Suicide prevention efforts need a comprehensive approach, and research must lead to effective implementation across public and mental health systems. A 10-year systematic review of evidence-based findings in suicide prevention summarized the areas necessary for translating research into practice. These include risk assessment, means restriction, evidence-based treatments, population screening combined with chain of care, monitoring, and follow-up. In this article, we review how suicide prevention research informs implementation in clinical settings where those most at risk present for care. Evidence-based and best practices address the fluctuating nature of suicide risk, which requires ongoing risk assessment, direct intervention and monitoring. In the US, the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention has put forth the Zero Suicide (ZS) Model, a framework to coordinate a multilevel approach to implementing evidence-based practices. We present the Assess, Intervene and Monitor for Suicide Prevention model (AIM-SP) as a guide for implementation of ZS evidence-based and best practices in clinical settings. Ten basic steps for clinical management model will be described and illustrated through case vignette. These steps are designed to be easily incorporated into standard clinical practice to enhance suicide risk assessment, brief interventions to increase safety and teach coping strategies and to improve ongoing contact and monitoring of high-risk individuals during transitions in care and high risk periods.

Hospital Emergency Department Lethal Means Counseling for Suicidal Patients

INTRODUCTION

Lethal means counseling of suicidal individuals in emergency departments has the potential to reduce suicide. This study examines the provision of lethal means counseling and the presence of written protocols in a region with high rates of both firearm ownership and suicide.

METHODS

In 2015-2016, emergency department nurse managers in hospital-based emergency departments throughout eight states were surveyed using an 80-item survey developed through qualitative interviews and pilot testing. Questions focused on discharge counseling with suicidal patients and the presence of written protocols. Using survey weights to adjust for nonresponse, relationships of protocols with counseling practices were examined.

RESULTS

Data were obtained from 52.3% of all 363 eligible hospital emergency departments in the region. Among facilities that discharge suicidal patients, 79.7% (95% CI=75.0%, 84.4%) reported asking about access to firearms and 68.9% (95% CI=62.9%, 74.8%) counsel about safe storage when patients reported access. Forty-four percent of emergency departments reported having written protocols for lethal means counseling. Presence of written protocols was associated with a higher rate of counseling for all suicidal patients even if they were not planning to use a gun (45.0% [95% CI=33.4%, 56.7%] in hospitals with protocols vs 21.5% [95% CI=14.9%, 29.0%] in facilities without protocols).

CONCLUSIONS

There are significant gaps in attention to lethal means counseling in emergency departments. This signals an opportunity to increase consistency and thoroughness of care for suicidal patients in the emergency department and for leadership from key professional organizations to advocate for protocols.

The Development of a Brief Suicide Screening and Risk Assessment Training Webinar for Rural Primary Care Practices

Although primary care practices have the potential to be crucial intervention points for suicide prevention in rural areas of the United States, primary care staff are often underequipped to deal with suicide and have limited access to high-quality training opportunities on this topic. This manuscript reports on posttest data collected from a sample of primary care staff (N = 16) regarding the acceptability of a brief, online interactive training webinar designed for primary care practices in rural West Virginia. The majority of participants reported the webinar was relevant to their practices (73.3%) and that they would recommend it to a fellow professional (75.0%). Higher proportions of participants reported confidence (75.0%) and comfort (68.8%) asking patients about suicide than they did regarding their ability to complete a risk assessment (50.1%) and a safety plan (56.3%) with a suicidal individual. Only half (56.3%) thought it was important to screen all primary care patients for suicide. Future research should use tracked pre- and posttest data to evaluate the effectiveness of trainings that include a focus on risk assessment and safety planning, education about the potential benefits of universal suicide risk screening, and that can be delivered through asynchronous methods.

Health Care Usage and Suicide Risk Screening within 1 Year of Suicide Death

BACKGROUND

Research indicates patients often seek medical care within 1 year of suicide. Health care encounters are a crucial opportunity for health professionals to identify patients at highest risk and provide preventative services.

OBJECTIVE

Study aims were to determine the characteristics of persons seeking health care within 12 months of suicide death and evaluate suicide risk screening (SRS) frequency in the emergency department (ED) vs. clinic settings.

METHODS

Medical examiner and hospital data of patients who died by suicide from 2007 to 2013 were evaluated. Descriptive analyses included demographics and frequency of ED vs. clinic visits. We also compared SRS before and after implementation of The Joint Commission's recommendation to assess suicide risk.

RESULTS

The 224 deceased patients were primarily single white males (mean age 67 years). Mental health issues, substance abuse, and prior suicide attempts were present alone or in combination in 74%. Visits were primarily behavioral health or substance abuse problems in the ED, and medical issues in the clinic. After implementation of universal SRS in the ED, screening increased from 39% to 92%. Among patients screened in the ED, 73% (37 of 51) screened negative for suicide risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Universal SRS increased the number of people screened in the ED. However, negative SRS may not equate to reduced risk for future suicide within 1 year. Future studies might investigate targeted screening of individuals with known suicide risk factors, as well as alternatives to patient self-report of intent to self-harm for patients with mental health or substance abuse problems.

The Role of Bias by Emergency Department Providers in Care for American Indian Children

BACKGROUND

American Indian children have high rates of emergency department (ED) use and face potential discrimination in health care settings.

OBJECTIVE

Our goal was to assess both implicit and explicit racial bias and examine their relationship with clinical care.

RESEARCH DESIGN

We performed a cross-sectional survey of care providers at 5 hospitals in the Upper Midwest. Questions included American Indian stereotypes (explicit attitudes), clinical vignettes, and the Implicit Association Test. Two Implicit Association Tests were created to assess implicit bias toward the child or the parent/caregiver. Differences were assessed using linear and logistic regression models with a random effect for study site.

RESULTS

A total of 154 care providers completed the survey. Agreement with negative American Indian stereotypes was 22%-32%. Overall, 84% of providers had an implicit preference for non-Hispanic white adults or children. Older providers (50 y and above) had lower implicit bias than those middle aged (30-49 y) (P=0.01). American Indian children were seen as increasingly challenging (P=0.04) and parents/caregivers less compliant (P=0.002) as the proportion of American Indian children seen in the ED increased. Responses to the vignettes were not related to implicit or explicit bias.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of ED care providers had an implicit preference for non-Hispanic white children or adults compared with those who were American Indian. Provider agreement with negative American Indian stereotypes differed by practice and respondents' characteristics. These findings require additional study to determine how these implicit and explicit biases influence health care or outcomes disparities.

A Consensus-Driven Agenda for Emergency Medicine Firearm Injury Prevention Research

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To identify critical emergency medicine-focused firearm injury research questions and develop an evidence-based research agenda.

METHODS

National content experts were recruited to a technical advisory group for the American College of Emergency Physicians Research Committee. Nominal group technique was used to identify research questions by consensus. The technical advisory group decided to focus on 5 widely accepted categorizations of firearm injury. Subgroups conducted literature reviews on each topic and developed preliminary lists of emergency medicine-relevant research questions. In-person meetings and conference calls were held to iteratively refine the extensive list of research questions, following nominal group technique guidelines. Feedback from external stakeholders was reviewed and integrated.

RESULTS

Fifty-nine final emergency medicine-relevant research questions were identified, including questions that cut across all firearm injury topics and questions specific to self-directed violence (suicide and attempted suicide), intimate partner violence, peer (nonpartner) violence, mass violence, and unintentional ("accidental") injury. Some questions could be addressed through research conducted in emergency departments; others would require work in other settings.

CONCLUSION

The technical advisory group identified key emergency medicine-relevant firearm injury research questions. Emergency medicine-specific data are limited for most of these questions. Funders and researchers should consider increasing their attention to firearm injury prevention and control, particularly to the questions identified here and in other recently developed research agendas.

LETHAL MEANS ACCESS AND ASSESSMENT AMONG SUICIDAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT PATIENTS

BACKGROUND

Reducing access to lethal means (especially firearms) might prevent suicide, but counseling of at-risk individuals about this strategy may not be routine. Among emergency department (ED) patients with suicidal ideation or attempts (SI/SA), we sought to describe home firearm access and examine ED provider assessment of access to lethal means.

METHODS

This secondary analysis used data from the Emergency Department Safety Assessment and Follow-up Evaluation, a three-phase, eight-center study of adult ED patients with SI/SA (2010-2013). Research staff surveyed participants about suicide-related factors (including home firearms) and later reviewed the ED chart (including documented assessment of lethal means access).

RESULTS

Among 1,358 patients with SI/SA, 11% (95% CI: 10-13%) reported ≥1 firearm at home; rates varied across sites (range: 6-26%) but not over time. On chart review, 50% (95% CI: 47-52%) of patients had documentation of lethal means access assessment. Frequency of documented assessment increased over study phases (40-60%, P < .001) but was not associated with state firearm ownership rates. Among the 337 (25%, 95% CI: 23-27%) patients discharged to home, 55% (95% CI: 49-60%) had no documentation of lethal means assessment; of these, 13% (95% CI: 8-19%; n = 24) actually had ≥1 firearm at home. Among all those reporting ≥1 home firearm to study staff, only half (50%, 95% CI: 42-59%) had provider documentation of assessment of lethal means access.

CONCLUSIONS

Among these ED patients with SI/SA, many did not have documented assessment of home access to lethal means, including patients who were discharged home and had ≥1 firearm at home.

Clinician Attitudes, Screening Practices, and Interventions to Reduce Firearm-Related Injury

Firearm injury is a leading cause of injury-related morbidity and mortality in the United States. We sought to systematically identify and summarize existing literature on clinical firearm injury prevention screening and interventions. We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PsycInfo, and ClinicalTrials.gov for English-language original research (published 1992-2014) on clinical screening methods, patient-level firearm interventions, or patient/provider attitudes on the same. Unrelated studies were excluded through title, abstract, and full-text review, and the remaining articles underwent data abstraction and quality scoring. Of a total of 3,260 unique titles identified, 72 were included in the final review. Fifty-three articles examined clinician attitudes/practice patterns; prior training, experience, and expectations correlated with clinicians' regularity of firearm screening. Twelve articles assessed patient interventions, of which 6 were randomized controlled trials. Seven articles described patient attitudes; all were of low methodological quality. According to these articles, providers rarely screen or counsel their patients-even high-risk patients-about firearm safety. Health-care-based interventions may increase rates of safe storage of firearms for pediatric patients, suicidal patients, and other high-risk groups. Some studies show that training clinicians can increase rates of effective firearm safety screening and counseling. Patients and families are, for the most part, accepting of such screening and counseling. However, the current literature is, by and large, not high quality. Rigorous, large-scale, adequately funded studies are needed.