Understanding for Prevention: Qualitative and Quantitative Analyses of Suicide Notes and Forensic Reports.

Suicide risk is associated with vulnerabilities and specific life events. The study's objective was to explore the relevance of data from forensic documentation on suicide deaths to the design of person-centered preventive strategies. Descriptive and thematic analyses were conducted of forensic observations of 286 deaths by suicide, including some with suicide notes. Key findings included the influence of health-and family-related adverse events, emotional states of loss and sadness, and failures of the health system to detect and act on signs of vulnerability, as confirmed by the suicide notes. Forensic documentation provides useful information to improve the targeting of preventive campaigns.

Factors Associated with Suicide Attempts and Suicides in the General Population of Andalusia (Spain).

Discrepant results have been published by studies comparing deaths by suicide with attempted suicides. This study aimed to determine factors associated with suicides and attempted suicides in Andalusia (Spain) between 2007 and 2013, comparing sex, age, year, and suicide method between these populations. A retrospective study was conducted of data on deaths by suicide and attempted suicides over a seven-year period, calculating the sex and age rates for each behavior. Adjusted Poisson regression was used to analyze the association with study variables, and incidence rate ratios were estimated. During the seven-year study period, 20,254 attempted suicides and 5202 deaths by suicide were recorded. The prevalence of attempted suicide did not differ between the sexes, whereas the prevalence of deaths by suicide was three-fold higher among males than among females and increased with higher age. The most frequently used method was the same in males and females for suicide attempts, but differed between the sexes for suicides. The combined influence of sex and age was greater in the model for death by suicide than in the model for attempted suicide. The key differentiating factor was the method used, while the finding of greatest concern was the suicide behavior among the elderly. Preventive strategies should take these differences into account.

Suicide attempts in Spain according to prehospital healthcare emergency records.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the number and characteristics of suicide attempts by reviewing records of the public emergency healthcare service information system. METHOD: A retrospective observational study was conducted of emergency telephone calls received between January 1 2007 and December 31 2013 throughout the Andalusia region (Southern Spain). Cases were selected based on phone operator or healthcare team labeling. Data were analyzed on the characteristics of the individuals, the timing and severity of attempts, their prioritization, and their outcome. RESULTS: Between January 1 2007 and December 31 2013, 20.942 calls related to suicide attempts were recorded, a rate of 34.7 attempts per 100,000 inhabitants. Most cases were classified by the public emergency healthcare service (Empresa Pública de Emergencias Sanitarias, EPES) as code X84 (The International Statistical Classification of Diseases, tenth revision, ICD-10) or 305(The International Statistical Classification of Diseases, ninth revision, ICD-9). Attempts were more frequent in the 35-49-year age group and there were similar proportions of males and females. The lowest number of calls for suicide attempts were in 2007 and the highest in 2013. Calls were more frequent during the summer months, at weekends, and between 16:00 and 23:00 h. The likelihood of evacuation to the hospital emergency department was almost two-fold lower in over 65-yr-olds than in younger individuals. Significant (Æ¿ = 0.001) gender differences were found in call outcome and prioritization. The most influential factor for evacuation to a hospital emergency department was the code assigned by the attending healthcare team. CONCLUSIONS: Information obtained from extra-hospital emergency services provides valuable data on the characteristics and timing of calls related to suicide attempts, complementing information from hospital emergency departments or population surveys. There is a need to standardize the definition and recording of a suicide attempt.

Efectividad de un plan de apoyo a cuidadores en dos hospitales públicos de Granada (España) / Effectiveness of a Plan to Support Caregivers at Two Public Hospitals in Granada (Spain) / Efetividade de um plano de apoio a cuidadores em dois hospitais públicos de Granada (Espanha)

Objetivo: dos hospitales granadinos realizan una experiencia pionera implementando medidas de apoyo innovadoras para personas cuidadoras. Transcurridos dos años desde su implantación se plantea: ¿Las medidas implementadas han logrado los beneficios esperados en personas cuidadoras en hospitalización? Para responder se realiza un estudio con el objetivo de evaluar la efectividad de las medidas de apoyo a personas cuidadoras incluyendo propuestas de mejora. Materiales y métodos: estudio cualitativo, interpretativo, basado en la Teoría Fundamentada. Se realizaron 45 entrevistas en profundidad a personas cuidadoras con distintos perfiles, en los hospitales Virgen de las Nieves y Baza. Se ha seguido como estrategia de análisis la comparación constante y la codificación abierta y axial. Se contó con el apoyo del software Atlas.ti®. Resultados: las personas cuidadoras valoran positivamente la mayoría de las medidas, destacando personalización, educación, hostelería y accesos prioritarios. La identificación de enfermera y auxiliar referentes no siempre ha funcionado bien. La utilización de zonas de descanso habilitadas ha sido escasa, debido principalmente a su ubicación. Conclusiones: las medidas implementadas han mejorado el bienestar y la autoestima de las personas cuidadoras durante la hospitalización. Aportan una evidencia que anima a extenderlas a otros hospitales y mejorar el trato y el apoyo a este colectivo.

Purpose: Two hospitals in Granada are involved in a pioneering experience to implement innovative measures to support caregivers. Two years after the onset of that initiative, the question is: Are the measures implemented achieving the expected benefits for caregivers during hospitalization? A study was conducted to answer that question by evaluating the effectiveness of those measures, including suggestions for improvement. Study Materials and Methods: This is a qualitative, interpretive study based on grounded theory. Forty-five (45) in-depth interviews were conducted at the Virgen de las Nieves and Baza hospitals with caregivers who have different profiles. The strategy for analysis involved constant comparison and open and axial coding, supported by Atlas.ti® software. Results: The caregivers reacted positively to most of the measures, highlighting personalization, education, accommodation and priority access. Use of the term nurse and auxiliary nurse as a form of identification has not always worked well. Only limited use has been made of the areas outfitted for rest and relaxation, mainly due to their location. Conclusions: The measures implemented have improved the well-being and self-esteem of caregivers during hospitalization. Moreover, they provide evidence that encourages their extension to other hospitals to improve the way this group is treated and the support it receives.

Objetivo: dois hospitais granadinos realizam uma experiência pioneira implementando medidas de apoio inovadoras para pessoas cuidadoras. Transcorridos dois anos de sua implantação, propõe-se: as medidas implantadas têm atingido os benefícios esperados em pessoas cuidadoras em hospitalização? Para responder a essa pergunta, realiza-se um estudo com o objetivo de avaliar a efetividade das medidas de apoio a pessoas cuidadoras em que são incluídas propostas de melhoria. Materiais e métodos: estudo qualitativo, interpretativo, baseado na Teoria Fundamentada. Realizaram-se 45 entrevistas em profundidade a pessoas cuidadoras com diferentes perfis, nos hospitais Virgen de las Nieves e Baza. Como estratégia de análise, foi seguida a comparação constante e a codificação aberta e axial. Contou-se com o apoio do software Atlas.ti®. Resultados: as pessoas cuidadoras valorizam positivamente a maioria das medidas e destacam: personalização, educação, hotelaria e acessos prioritários. A identificação de enfermeira e auxiliar referentes nem sempre tem funcionado bem. A utilização de áreas de descanso habilitadas é escassa, devido, principalmente, a sua localização. Conclusões: as medidas implantadas têm melhorado o bem-estar e a autoestima das pessoas cuidadoras durante a hospitalização. Além disso, estimulam sua extensão a outros hospitais e melhoram o tratamento e o apoio a esse coletivo.