title: Danish emergency nurses' attitudes towards self-harm – a cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine Danish emergency nurses' attitudes toward people hospitalized after an acetaminophen poisoning. Furthermore, the study examined the relationship between attitudes and factors such as age, gender, and education on self-harm.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional design was applied. Nurses from seven emergency departments (EDs) in a region in Denmark were asked to complete the Danish version of Attitudes towards Deliberate Self-Harm Questionnaire (ADSHQ).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 254 eligible nurses working in the ED, 122 returned the questionnaires, leaving the response rate at 48%. Results show that the emergency nurses generally held positive attitudes toward patients with acetaminophen poisoning. Nurses with longer ED experience held more positive attitudes, and women scored significantly higher than men on the whole scale. Only 19% of the respondents had received education on self-harm, and this education seems to produce more positive attitudes and a greater self-efficacy in relation to managing the patient group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses working in the ED generally hold positive attitudes toward patients with acetaminophen poisoning. It is suggested that education on self-harm is a worthwhile endeavor with the potential to strengthen and improve attitudes, for the benefit of both the nurses and the patients.
authors.affiliation: Medical Department F, Gentofte University Hospital, Niels Andersensvej 65, DK-2900 Hellerup, Denmark. Electronic address: isapen@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Penille Wimmer
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Perboell
authors.affiliation: The University Hospitals Centre for Health Research (UCSF), Copenhagen University Hospital, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Nanna Maria
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Hammer
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Research, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark.
authors.forename: Birte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Oestergaard
authors.affiliation: Research Unit, Gentofte University Hospital, Niels Andersensvej 65, DK-2900 Hellerup, Denmark.
authors.forename: Hanne
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Konradsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003718:Denmark; D016529:Emergency Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Attitude of health personnel; Overdose; Self-injurious behavior; Suicide attempted