title: Factors influencing perceived effectiveness in dealing with self-harming patients in a sample of emergency department staff.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Past self-harming behavior is one of the most significant predictors of future suicide. Each year in Ireland there are approximately 11,000 presentations of self-harm to emergency departments (EDs) across the country.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study examines predictors of perceived personal effectiveness in dealing with self-harming patients as reported by ED staff. The predictors are derived from past research and are influenced by Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred twenty-five ED medical staff (28 doctors and 97 nurses) from five EDs in the West and South of Ireland completed a questionnaire. Predictor variables included in the design, and informed by past research, included knowledge of self-harm and suicidal behavior and confidence in dealing with incidents of self-harm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Standard multiple regression suggested a statistically significant model fit between the two predictors and the criterion variable, accounting for 24% of total variance. Knowledge and Confidence were significant contributors to perceived personal effectiveness in dealing with self-harming patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Little is known regarding specific factors that influence perceived effectiveness in dealing with self-harming patients in the ED setting. These findings have implications for psycho-education and training content for staff. The findings suggest that increasing knowledge of self-harm and confidence in dealing with self-harming patients can lead to more positive perceived personal effectiveness in responding to clients' needs.
authors.affiliation: Arbour Hill Prison, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Egan
authors.forename: Kiran M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Sarma
authors.forename: Meena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Neill
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004635:Emergency Medicine; D016529:Emergency Nursing; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D020377:Self Efficacy; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000628:therapy*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome