The struggle to prevent and evaluate: application of population attributable risk and preventive fraction to suicide prevention research.
Population attributable risk (PAR) estimates have been used in suicide research to evaluate the impact of psychosocial and socioeconomic risk factors, including affective disorders, traumatic life events, and unemployment. A parallel concept of preventive fraction (PF), allowing for estimation of the impact of protective factors and effectiveness of preventive interventions, is practically unknown in suicidology. The study authors discuss the application of both concepts to suicide research and prevention, and review literature on the subject. Despite several methodological and conceptual limitations, both PAR and PF are valuable instruments to inform development and evaluation of suicide prevention programs.
Krysinska
Karolina
K
Research Officer of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the Centre for Suicide Prevention Studies in Young People, University of Queensland, Australia. kkrysinska@hotmail.com
Martin
Graham
G
D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D011153:Population; D012306:Risk; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D000092864:Suicide Prevention