Interventions to Change Clinician Behaviour in Relation to Suicide Prevention Care in the Emergency Department: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Introduction: An emergency department (ED) is a critical place for suicide prevention, yet patients are often discharged without proper suicide risk assessments and/or referrals. We must support ED clinicians’ behaviour change following evidence-based suicide prevention. This scoping review aimed to explore and characterize interventions that change ED clinicians’ behaviour related to suicide prevention using the Behaviour Change Wheel.

Methods: This scoping review followed the JBI methodology. The search included PubMed, PsycInfo, CINAHL, Embase, and grey literature.

Results: This review included 70 citations for extraction, and there were 66 interventions included in data analysis. The frequency of intervention functions was identified: Education(n=48), Training(n=40), Enablement(n=36), Persuasion(n=21). Studies reported outcome measures of effectiveness at clinician(n=38), patient(n=4) and/or organization levels(n=6). Few studies also reported implementation outcomes, such as measures of reach(n=5) and adoption(n=5).

Conclusion: This review can serve as a foundation for future research as it provides theory-based suggestions and identifies specific areas of improvement.