Quality of Psychosocial Care of Suicide Attempters at General Hospitals in Norway—A Longitudinal Nationwide Study

Abstract

The objective of this study was to identify predictors of a high level of quality of care for suicide attempters at general hospital emergency departments in Norway. Structured interviews with key informants covering the quality of care of patients admitted following attempted suicide were conducted in 1999 and 2006 at 87% of all general hospitals. Hospitals having implemented a chain of care program for suicide attempters in 1999 maintained significantly higher levels on quality of care indicators 7 years later. Predictors of a high quality of care level were training of staff in management and care of suicide attempters and to have written guidelines for the care.

Keywords:

• attempted suicide
• chain of care
• follow-up
• general hospitals
• quality of care

Notes

* = p < .05; ** = p < .01.

^a Predictors: ED has a team or a coordinator, Written guidelines and Training of staff (method: stepwise).

^b Block I (Model I), Block II: Interaction between Written guidelines × Training of staff (method: stepwise).