title: The management of non-compliance with referral to out-patient after-care among attempted suicide patients: a controlled intervention study.
abstract: The failure to comply with referral for out-patient after-care is a well-documented problem among attempted suicide patients. The present study aimed at the investigation of an experimental referral procedure by means of a randomized controlled study. Non-compliant patients in the experimental group were visited in their homes by a community nurse in order to assess reasons for non-compliance and to motivate patients to comply with referral. One year after their suicide attempt patients were visited in their homes in order to assess repetition of suicidal behaviour. Uni- and multi-variate analyses showed a significant beneficial effect of the experimental procedure on compliance with referral. A near-significant effect of the experimental procedure on the rate of repetition of suicidal behaviour was found.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van Heeringen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jannes
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Buylaert
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Henderick
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Bacquer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Remoortel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012008:Recurrence; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013406:Suicide, Attempted