Assessment and care of individuals at risk of suicide in Emergency Department: The SecUrgence protocol

Int Emerg Nurs. 2022 Sep:64:101199. doi: 10.1016/j.ienj.2022.101199. Epub 2022 Aug 23.

Abstract

Almost half (48,5%) of all individuals who die by suicide visited the Emergency Department (ED) in the year preceding their death by suicide and for almost a third (29,5%) of these individuals, the ED visit occurred within the month preceding their death by suicide. The ED is a key location for suicide prevention. The aim of this study was to develop and reach a consensus on the SecUrgence Protocol, a clinical protocol that intends to assess and provide care for individuals at risk of suicide that present themselves to the ED. This project was conducted in 3 stages: 1) Review of the literature, 2) Development of the list of the protocol statements by a first panel of experts, and 3) Validation, using the Delphi consensus method, on the final statements to include in the SecUrgence Protocol by a second panel of experts. Two rounds of the Delphi questionnaire were conducted until a final consensus of over 75% was reached. The SecUrgence Protocol is a first scientific step towards improving suicide prevention in the ED in Quebec as it was validated by a rigorous research process that included a consensus by all key stakeholders.

Keywords: Delphi study; Emergency department; Mental health; Quality of care; SecUrgence protocol; Suicide prevention.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Consensus
  • Delphi Technique
  • Emergency Service, Hospital
  • Humans
  • Review Literature as Topic
  • Suicide Prevention*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires