TY - JOUR
T1 - Survey of Australian and Canadian community pharmacists' experiences with patients at risk of suicide
AU - Murphy, Andrea L.
AU - O'Reilly, Claire L.
AU - Ataya, Randa
AU - Doucette, Steve P.
AU - Burge, Frederick I.
AU - Salvador-Carulla, Luis
AU - Chen, Timothy F.
AU - Himmelman, Dani
AU - Kutcher, Stanley
AU - Martin-Misener, Ruth
AU - Rosen, Alan
AU - Gardner, David M.
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by research grants from the Dalhousie Pharmacy Endowment Fund (DPEF) and the Pharmacy Council of New South Wales as well as a studentship from the Drug Evaluation Alliance of Nova Scotia (DEANS). The initial meetings for Dr. Murphy and Dr. Gardner to collaborate with Australian colleagues to prepare the DPEF grant proposal were supported by DEANS through sabbatical support for Dr. Murphy and Dr. Gardner.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 American Psychiatric Association. All rights reserved.
PY - 2020/3
Y1 - 2020/3
N2 - Objective: The study's objective was to examine Canadian and Australian community pharmacists' experiences with people at risk of suicide. Methods: A survey was developed and administered online. Countries were compared by Fisher's exact and t tests. Multivariable logistic-regression analysis was used to identify variables associated with preparedness to help someone in a suicidal crisis. Results: The survey was completed by 235 Canadian and 161 Australian pharmacists. Most (85%) interacted with someone at risk of suicide at least once, and 66% experienced voluntary patient disclosure of suicidal thoughts. More Australians than Canadians had mental health crisis training (p,0.001). Preparedness to help in a suicidal crisis was negatively associated with being Canadian, having a patient who died by suicide, lacking training and confidence, and permissive attitudes toward suicide. Conclusions: Several perceived barriers impede pharmacists' abilities to help patients who voluntarily disclose suicidal thoughts. Gatekeeper and related suicide prevention strategy training for community pharmacists is warranted.
AB - Objective: The study's objective was to examine Canadian and Australian community pharmacists' experiences with people at risk of suicide. Methods: A survey was developed and administered online. Countries were compared by Fisher's exact and t tests. Multivariable logistic-regression analysis was used to identify variables associated with preparedness to help someone in a suicidal crisis. Results: The survey was completed by 235 Canadian and 161 Australian pharmacists. Most (85%) interacted with someone at risk of suicide at least once, and 66% experienced voluntary patient disclosure of suicidal thoughts. More Australians than Canadians had mental health crisis training (p,0.001). Preparedness to help in a suicidal crisis was negatively associated with being Canadian, having a patient who died by suicide, lacking training and confidence, and permissive attitudes toward suicide. Conclusions: Several perceived barriers impede pharmacists' abilities to help patients who voluntarily disclose suicidal thoughts. Gatekeeper and related suicide prevention strategy training for community pharmacists is warranted.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85081070943&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1176/appi.ps.201900244
DO - 10.1176/appi.ps.201900244
M3 - Review article
C2 - 31744430
AN - SCOPUS:85081070943
SN - 1075-2730
VL - 71
SP - 293
EP - 296
JO - Psychiatric Services
JF - Psychiatric Services
IS - 3
ER -