title: Perceived competence and attitudes towards patients with suicidal behaviour: a survey of general practitioners, psychiatrists and internists.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Competence and attitudes to suicidal behaviour among physicians are important to provide high-quality care for a large patient group. The aim was to study different physicians' attitudes towards suicidal behaviour and their perceived competence to care for suicidal patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random selection (n = 750) of all registered General Practitioners, Psychiatrists and Internists in Norway received a questionnaire. The response rate was 40%. The Understanding of Suicidal Patients Scale (USP; scores < 23 = positive attitude) and items about suicide in case of incurable illness from the Attitudes Towards Suicide Questionnaire were used. Five-point Likert scales were used to measure self-perceived competence, level of commitment, empathy and irritation felt towards patients with somatic and psychiatric diagnoses. Questions about training were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The physicians held positive attitudes towards suicide attempters (USP = 20.3, 95% CI: 19.6-20.9). Internists and males were significantly less positive. There were no significant differences in the physicians in their attitudes toward suicide in case of incurable illness according to specialty. The physicians were most irritated and less committed to substance misuse patients. Self perceived competence was relatively high. Forty-three percent had participated in courses about suicide assessment and treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The physicians reported positive attitudes and relatively high competence. They were least committed to treat patients with substance misuse. None of the professional groups thought that patients with incurable illness should be given help to commit suicide. Further customized education with focus on substance misuse might be useful.
authors.affiliation: Department of Acute Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Pb, 4950 Nydalen, Oslo 0424, Norway. Tinegrim@yahoo.no.
authors.forename: Tine K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Grimholt
authors.forename: Ole R
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Haavet
authors.forename: Dag
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
authors.forename: Leiv
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sandvik
authors.forename: Oivind
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ekeberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011570:Psychiatry; D020377:Self Efficacy; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires