Assistant Professor Medical College of wisconsin Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Body of Abstract: Research
Aims: Research has demonstrated that some injuries treated in trauma centers, both self-inflicted and ostensibly unintentional, have been misclassified in a manner that leads to errors in reporting of injuries with suicidal intent. A recent study revealed that 16% of injuries seen in a Level I Trauma Center were misclassified in terms of intent. One reason is the incongruence of screening tools with different cultural experiences and expressions of suicide risk. At the same time, patients may be reluctant to disclose suicidal intent for several reasons. The purpose of this study is to broaden our understanding of the intent behind traumatic injuries to more accurately identify at risk patients and ultimately provide better care for patients at-risk for suicide.
Methods: We assessed suicide risk among patients who are admitted to a Level I Trauma Center for specific traumatic injuries which could potentially reflect suicidal intent (e.g., single vehicle motor vehicle crashes) but who did not disclose suicidal intent when admitted to the hospital. We used an evidence-based screening tool for suicide risk in cultural minorities. Patients screening positive were invited to participate in a semi-structured interview to further elucidate circumstances of the injury along with potential risk for suicide.
Results: To date, 170 patients have been enrolled in our study. A majority (54%) were non-White. 11% of patients not initially endorsing suicidal ideation upon hospital admission screened positive for suicide in our study. Race was significantly associated with risk for suicide in our sample. Interviews highlighted additional risk factors for suicide, including social discord and history of mental health challenges.
Conclusions: This study provides novel and important data to support earlier identification of injured patients who are at risk for suicide, enabling earlier and more focused intervention within the hospital setting.
IRB approval was obtained through the IRB at the Medical College of Wisconsin
Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of this presentation, the participant should be able to discuss the potential implications of the misclassification of intent of traumatic injuries.
At the conclusion of this presentation, the participant should be able to summarize the findings from a study examining potential misclassification of injuries within a trauma center setting.
At the conclusion of this presentation, the participant should be able to formulate strategies to better identify suicide risk among patients who are traumatically injured.
