ABSTRACT
A scoping review of systematic reviews was carried out to identify evidence of efficacy, effectiveness, and costeffectiveness of universal and selective suicide prevention programs among university students worldwide. Five databases were reviewed using terms in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. The following were the inclusion criteria: systematic review or meta-analysis or meta-synthesis, suicide prevention in college students, evaluation of the efficacy, effectiveness and/or cost-effectiveness of interventions, and peer-reviewed studies. The quality of reviews was assessed. The field of study features three decades of publication in high-income countries. The strategy used, the components of the program, and the target audience to which they are delivered interfere with efficacy. In the psychoeducation strategy, the experiential and didactic components are more efficacious in the knowledge about suicide. And the motivational enhancement component promotes greater self-efficacy in suicide prevention. Programs that take a multimodal approach are effective in increasing short-term attitudes related to suicide and reducing rates of completed suicide. The gatekeeper strategy delivered to peer counselors is the most effective one in the outcomes, including short-term and long-term knowledge about suicide and its prevention and self-efficacy in suicide prevention. A greater number of evaluated studies of gatekeeper interventions were identified, indicating a trend in this research field. No review addressed the effects on subgroups that were classified based on sex, racial or sexual minorities, and special (indigenous) populations. Only one study addressed cost-effectiveness, pointing out that the psychoeducation and gatekeeper strategies have relevant net benefit rates, but the gatekeeper strategy has a higher cost-benefit ratio compared to the psychoeducation strategy. The findings indicate that psychoeducation and gatekeeper interventions tend to be more efficacious when they combine education and skills training to intervene in suicidal behavior. The components of the intervention and the target audience to which it is delivered influence efficacy. Multimodal interventions evaluate completed suicide outcomes, but require greater implementation efforts, in terms of human and financial resources and more time for the evaluation. (AU)
Subject(s)
Effectiveness , Efficacy , Suicide Prevention/methods , Preventive Health Services/statistics & numerical data , StudentsABSTRACT
Resumo Este estudo avaliou os efeitos de uma intervenção para prevenção à violência no namoro sobre intenções de enfrentamento a esse tipo de violência, dificuldades em regulação das emoções e endosso a normas tradicionais de papéis de gênero masculino. Participaram 45 adolescentes, alocados não randomicamente em um grupo experimental (N = 21) e um grupo controle (N = 24). A intervenção compreendeu nove sessões focadas em informações sobre violência no namoro, habilidades sociais, tomada de decisão, papéis de gênero, direitos sexuais e reprodutivos e empoderamento. Análises intra e entre grupos revelaram redução significativa em crenças que apoiam a restrição emocional como característica masculina no grupo experimental, ao passo que intenções de enfrentamento à violência no namoro e regulação emocional não sofreram mudanças significativas em nenhum dos grupos. Contudo, avaliações qualitativas evidenciaram a prática extrassessão de habilidades de autocontrole e expressão emocional, assertividade e empatia. Novos estudos, principalmente longitudinais, são recomendados para elucidar esses resultados.
Abstract This study evaluated the effects of a dating violence prevention intervention on intentions of coping with this type of violence, difficulties in regulating emotions and endorsement of traditional male gender norms. There were 45 adolescent participants, not randomly placed in an experimental group (N = 21) and a control group (N = 24). The intervention encompassed nine sessions focused on information about dating violence, social skills, decision making, sexual and reproductive rights, and empowerment. Analyses intra and between groups had shown significant reduction in beliefs that supported emotional restriction as a masculinity characteristic in the experimental group, whereas the intentions of coping with dating violence and emotional regulation had not suffered significant changes in any of the Groups. However, qualitative evaluations had evidenced the external practice of self-control and emotional expression skills, assertiveness and empathy. New studies, mainly longitudinal, are recommended to elucidate these results.
Resumen Este estudio evaluó los efectos de una intervención para la prevención a la violencia en el noviazgo sobre cómo hacer frente a tales intenciones de violencia, dificultades en la regulación de las emociones y aprobación de normas tradicionales de roles de género masculino. Participaron 45 adolescentes, no asignados no aleatoriamente en un grupo experimental (N = 21) y un grupo de control (N = 24). La intervención consistió en nueve sesiones que se centraron en información sobre violencia en el noviazgo, habilidades sociales, toma de decisiones, roles de género, derechos sexuales y reproductivos y en la potenciación. Análisis intra y entre grupos revelaron una reducción significativa en las creencias que apoyan la restricción emocional como característica masculina en el grupo experimental, mientras que las intenciones de enfrentamiento a la violencia en el noviazgo y la regulación emocional no sufrieron cambios significativos en ninguno de los grupos. Pese a eso, las evaluaciones cualitativas mostraron la práctica externa al período de las sesiones de habilidades de autocontrol y expresión emocional, asertividad y empatía. Son recomendados nuevos estudios, principalmente longitudinales, para esclarecer estos resultados.