Knowledge and attitude of nonpsychiatric physicians regarding suicide in spinal cord injury patients and need for structured psychiatric education for suicide prevention A prospective survey pilot study

The study investigates the awareness and attitudes of nonpsychiatric physicians towards suicide in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. It explores the necessity of suicide prevention education for these physicians. The research involved a questionnaire survey among medical staff treating SCI patients, including orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, and rehabilitation medicine physicians. The findings highlight differences in attitudes and awareness between surgical and nonsurgical clinicians, emphasizing the importance of education and clinical experience for suicide prevention in SCI patients.

• 1
  Significant differences were found between surgical and nonsurgical clinicians regarding awareness and attitude toward suicide and psychiatric consultation.
• 2
  Older age correlated with a greater understanding that someone with an incurable disease might want to commit suicide.
• 3
  A correlation exists between the perception that media reports on suicide are stimulating and the belief that suicide prevention education is necessary for physicians.