Oncology nurses' knowledge and misconceptions about suicide. 1994

S M Valente, and J M Saunders, and M Grant

Nurses' knowledge of suicide has been underinvestigated. This article summarizes a survey of oncology nurses' knowledge and misconceptions about suicide. Nurses' knowledge of risk factors, suicide potential, and management of a suicidal patient were examined after nurses read a vignette about a suicidal patient with cancer. Analysis included descriptive statistics and content analysis. Approximately 20% of nurses underestimated the patient's suicide risk. Nurses correctly identified an average of three of eight risk factors, but 61% misidentified worries and fears as suicide risk factors or indicators of suicide risk. More than 60% of nurses correctly identified saying goodbye, giving away a treasured object, being a widower, and wishing to be dead as risk factors. Few knew that race/ethnicity (3.23%), male gender (23.66%), and age (31.18%) were risk factors. Undiagnosed mental disorders also increase suicide risk. Physicians and nurses often fail to ask oncology patients about depression, and depressed patients often report only physical symptoms and minimize their depression or suicidal ideas. Before committing suicide, 8 of 10 suicidal people had asked for better management of their physical symptoms, but their suicide risk was not detected. After recognizing any indicator of suicide risk, a nurse should assess risk factors, detect clues, and estimate individual lethality. Few (15.12%) nurses asked about a suicide plan as a nursing assessment, and 37% of the nurses used consultation. Less than one-third of nurses recommended providing safety, protecting the patient, or taking suicide precautions. Such evidence indicates the need for education to enhance knowledge and skill building to improve the interviewing and care of suicidal patients.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007722 Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Knowledge, attitudes, and associated behaviors which pertain to health-related topics such as PATHOLOGIC PROCESSES or diseases, their prevention, and treatment. This term refers to non-health workers and health workers (HEALTH PERSONNEL). Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009369 Neoplasms New abnormal growth of tissue. Malignant neoplasms show a greater degree of anaplasia and have the properties of invasion and metastasis, compared to benign neoplasms. Benign Neoplasm,Cancer,Malignant Neoplasm,Tumor,Tumors,Benign Neoplasms,Malignancy,Malignant Neoplasms,Neoplasia,Neoplasm,Neoplasms, Benign,Cancers,Malignancies,Neoplasias,Neoplasm, Benign,Neoplasm, Malignant,Neoplasms, Malignant
D009730 Nursing Assessment Evaluation of the nature and extent of nursing problems presented by a patient for the purpose of patient care planning. Nursing Protocols,Assessment, Nursing,Protocols, Nursing,Assessments, Nursing,Nursing Assessments,Nursing Protocol,Protocol, Nursing
D009741 Nursing Staff, Hospital Personnel who provide nursing service to patients in a hospital. Hospital Nursing Staff,Hospital Nursing Staffs,Nursing Staffs, Hospital,Staff, Hospital Nursing,Staffs, Hospital Nursing
D010347 Patient Care Planning Usually a written medical and nursing care program designed for a particular patient. Nursing Care Plans,Goals of Care,Plans, Nursing Care,Care Goal,Care Goals,Care Plan, Nursing,Care Planning, Patient,Care Plans, Nursing,Nursing Care Plan,Plan, Nursing Care,Planning, Patient Care
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults

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