Journal article
When a patient talks about suicide: Adding a social worker led session on the pharmacist's role in suicide prevention to the PharmD curriculum
Currents in pharmacy teaching and learning, Vol.11(6), pp.585-591
06/2019
DOI: 10.1016/j.cptl.2019.02.027
PMID: 31213314
Abstract
Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the US. Frontline health professionals like pharmacists can be trained to intervene with patients displaying warning signs of suicide. The purpose of this activity was to introduce student pharmacists to suicide prevention concepts.
A social worker on faculty at the school of social work and a pharmacy practice faculty member collaborated to deliver a 50-min didactic session to first year students on the role of pharmacists in suicide prevention. The session included: (1) suicide statistics and public health signiifcance, (2) protective factors, risk factors, and warning signs of suicidal ideation, (3) strategies for asking about suicidal ideation, including practice asking about suicide, (4) resources and referrals, and (5) brief case scenarios and student questions.
An electronic survey was administered to 108 students and 83 responses (76.9%) were received. The results suggested the topic was new to most students and was relevant to their role as pharmacists. Most students (91%) reported that the session increased their confidence in asking about suicide for someone displaying warning signs. Student comments on the survey were generally positive with students requesting additional exposure to scenarios. Pharmacy programs may benefit from collaborating with social work or mental health professionals to deliver basic suicide intervention training tailored to pharmacy.
A social worker-led session about suicide prevention was positively received by first year student pharmacists.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- When a patient talks about suicide: Adding a social worker led session on the pharmacist's role in suicide prevention to the PharmD curriculum
- Creators
- Matthew J. Witry - University of IowaKeri Neblett - University of IowaSonja Hutchens - University of IowaChristine Catney - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Currents in pharmacy teaching and learning, Vol.11(6), pp.585-591
- Publisher
- Elsevier Inc
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.cptl.2019.02.027
- PMID
- 31213314
- ISSN
- 1877-1297
- eISSN
- 1877-1300
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 06/2019
- Academic Unit
- School of Social Work; Pharmacy Practice and Science; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984359854402771
Metrics
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