Dataset Information

Cross-sectional study of attitudes about suicide among psychiatrists in Shanghai.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Attitudes and knowledge about suicide may influence psychiatrists' management of suicidal patients but there has been little research about this issue in China.

Methods

We used the Scale of Public Attitudes about Suicide (SPAS)--a 47-item scale developed and validated in China--to assess knowledge about suicide and seven specific attitudes about suicide in a sample of 187 psychiatrists from six psychiatric hospitals in Shanghai. The results were compared to those of 548 urban community members (assessed in a previous study).

Results

Compared to urban community members, psychiatrists were more likely to believe that suicide can be prevented and that suicide is an important social problem but they had more stigmatizing beliefs about suicidal individuals and felt less empathy for them. The belief that suicide can be prevented was more common among female psychiatrists than male psychiatrists but male psychiatrists felt more empathy for suicidal individuals. Only 37% of the psychiatrists correctly agreed that talking about suicide-related issues with an individual would not precipitate suicidal behavior and only 41% correctly agreed that those who state that they intend to kill themselves may actually do so.

Conclusions

Many psychiatrists in Shanghai harbor negative attitudes about suicidal individuals and are concerned that directly addressing the issue with patients will increase the risk of suicide. Demographic factors, educational status and work experience are associated with psychiatrists' attitudes about suicide and, thus, need to be considered when training psychiatrists about suicide prevention.

SUBMITTER: Jiao Y

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3987172 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Cross-sectional study of attitudes about suicide among psychiatrists in Shanghai.

Jiao Yumei Y Phillips Michael R MR Sheng Yourong Y Wu Guojun G Li Xianyun X Xiong Wei W Wang Liwei L

BMC psychiatry 20140325

<h4>Background</h4>Attitudes and knowledge about suicide may influence psychiatrists' management of suicidal patients but there has been little research about this issue in China.<h4>Methods</h4>We used the Scale of Public Attitudes about Suicide (SPAS)--a 47-item scale developed and validated in China--to assess knowledge about suicide and seven specific attitudes about suicide in a sample of 187 psychiatrists from six psychiatric hospitals in Shanghai. The results were compared to those of 548 ...[more]

PMID: 24666549

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundThe medical-ethical dilemmas related to euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (EAS) in psychiatric patients are highly relevant in an international context. EAS in psychiatric patients appears to become more frequent in the Netherlands. However, little is known about the experiences of psychiatrists with this practice. This study aims to estimate the incidence of EAS (requests) in psychiatric practice in The Netherlands and to describe the characteristics of psychiatric patients requesting EAS, the decision-making process and outcomes of these requests.MethodsIn the context of the third evaluation of the Dutch Euthanasia Act, a cross-sectional study was performed between May and September 2016. A questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 500 Dutch psychiatrists. Of the 425 eligible psychiatrists 49% responded. Frequencies of EAS and EAS requests were estimated. Detailed information was asked about the most recent case in which psychiatrists granted and/or refused an EAS request, if any.ResultsThe total number of psychiatric patients explicitly requesting for EAS was estimated to be between 1100 and 1150 for all psychiatrists in a one year period from 2015 to 2016. An estimated 60 to 70 patients received EAS in this period. Nine psychiatrists described a case in which they granted an EAS request from a psychiatric patient. Five of these nine patients had a mood disorder. Three patients had somatic comorbidity. Main reasons to request EAS were 'depressive feelings' and 'suffering without prospect of improvement'. Sixty-six psychiatrists described a case in which they refused an EAS request. 59% of these patients had a personality disorder and 19% had somatic comorbidity. Main reasons to request EAS were 'depressive feelings' and 'desperate situations in several areas of life'. Most requests were refused because the due care criteria were not met.ConclusionsAlthough the incidence of EAS in psychiatric patients increased over the past two decades, this practice remains relatively rare. This is probably due to the complexity of assessing the due care criteria in case of psychiatric suffering. Training and support may enable psychiatrists to address this sensitive issue in their work better.

Project description:OBJECTIVES:To assess attitudes and willingness of parents of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) regarding donating biospecimens for future CHD research, and to identify factors associated with biospecimen donation. DESIGN:Face-to-face cross-sectional survey data were analysed using logistic regression. SETTING:Cardiothoracic Surgery Inpatient Department, Shanghai Children's Medical Centre. PARTICIPANTS:Parents of children attending the cardiothoracic surgery inpatient department at Shanghai Children's Medical Center, 1 March-31 December 2016. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES:Willingness and motivation regarding donating children's biospecimens, and ethical and legal considerations concerning children's future willingness to donate. RESULTS:Of 550 parents, 508 completed the questionnaire (response rate=92.4%). Overall, 69.1% (n=351) were willing to donate their children's biospecimens for medical research. Multivariate analysis indicated higher education level (college/graduate degree: OR 2.435, 95% CI 1.221 to 4.857, p=0.012; high school: OR 1.827, 95%?CI 1.190 to 2.804, p=0.006) and children's hospitalisation history (OR 1.581; 95%?CI 1.069 to 2.338, p=0.022) were positively associated with willingness to donate. The most common motivation for donation was potential benefit to other children with CHD (81.2%, n=285). The main barriers to donation were physical discomfort to their children (52.3%, n=54) and concerns about personal privacy (47.1%, n=48). Most parents (86.0%, n=302) wanted to be informed of research results using their children's donated biospecimens, and 34.8% (n=177) believed that children aged 10-18 years had the right to consent independently to research participation. CONCLUSIONS:Nearly 70% of the parents in this study were willing to donate their children's biospecimens for future CHD research. Parents' education level and children's hospitalisation history influenced willingness to donate. Most parents wanted to receive the research results related to their children's biospecimens.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Recent discoveries in the fields of machine learning (ML), Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA), computerized adaptive testing (CAT), digital phenotype, imaging, and biomarkers have brought about a new paradigm shift in medicine. OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to explore psychiatrists' perspectives on this paradigm through the prism of new clinical decision support systems (CDSSs). Our primary objective was to assess the acceptability of these new technologies. Our secondary objective was to characterize the factors affecting their acceptability. METHODS:A sample of psychiatrists was recruited through a mailing list. Respondents completed a Web-based survey. A quantitative study with an original form of assessment involving the screenplay method was implemented involving 3 scenarios, each featuring 1 of the 3 support systems, namely, EMA and CAT, biosensors comprising a connected wristband-based digital phenotype, and an ML-based blood test or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We investigated 4 acceptability domains based on International Organization for Standardization and Nielsen models (usefulness, usability, reliability, and risk). RESULTS:We recorded 515 observations. Regarding our primary objective, overall acceptability was moderate. MRI coupled with ML was considered to be the most useful system, and the connected wristband was considered the least. All the systems were described as risky (410/515, 79.6%). Regarding our secondary objective, acceptability was strongly influenced by socioepidemiological variables (professional culture), such as gender, age, and theoretical approach. CONCLUSIONS:This is the first study to assess psychiatrists' views on new CDSSs. Data revealed moderate acceptability, but our analysis shows that this is more the result of the lack of knowledge about these new technologies rather than a strong rejection. Furthermore, we found strong correspondences between acceptability profiles and professional culture profiles. Many medical, forensics, and ethical issues were raised, including therapeutic relationship, data security, data storage, and privacy risk. It is essential for psychiatrists to receive training and become involved in the development of new technologies.

Project description:BackgroundOur study aimed to investigate the ocular surface health of Shanghai University students.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study carried out among freshmen and sophomores on the main campus of Shanghai University. Questionnaires including the widely-used ocular surface disease index (OSDI) and the Zung Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) were completed first, and then ocular examinations were conducted regarding height & weight, blood pressure and heart rate, optometry, intraocular pressure exam, vision and subjective refraction, Aladdin, Macular pigment density measurement, tear test, anterior segment examination, fundus photography, ophthalmologist check, TOPCON OCT check, and Collin's fundus blood test.ResultsTotally 901 students were involved in our five-day study. The prevalence of myopia was 92% (the spherical equivalent refraction (SER)?<?-?0.50 D), and that of high myopia was 23% (SER?<?-?6.0D). The prevalence of dry eye disease (DED) was 10%. The corneal epithelial loss rate (corneal fluorescein staining >?1) was 10%, and corneal sensation decline rate (??30 mm) was 12%. 4.5% of subjects (n?=?40) had moderate or severe anxiety, 78% were mild and a small portion (17.5%) didn't have anxiety at all. No statistical significant association was found between anxiety with DED, fluorescein staining or with corneal sensation (all p?>?0.05). However, subjects with DED had more symptoms of anxiety. Results also showed that students who kept eye strain for a long time were more inclined to have DED (12.5%: 6.9%, p?=?0.0407, 95% CI); those who watched mobile phones and/or computers for over eight hours daily were more vulnerable to DED and fluorescein staining than others (14.1%: 8.6%, p?=?0.0129; 13.0%: 8.3%, p?=?0.0233, 95% CI).ConclusionsKeeping eye strain or near work for a long time is associated with DED, while students with DED tend to encounter anxiety symptoms. The prevalence of myopia in Chinese university students is still high. We consider it necessary to provide education to university students about the good eye-using habits, and to diagnose anxiety for student patients with DED.

Dataset Information

Cross-sectional study of attitudes about suicide among psychiatrists in Shanghai.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Cross-sectional study of attitudes about suicide among psychiatrists in Shanghai.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets