The impact of patient suicide and sudden death on health care professionals

Abstract

Objective: To compare the professional and personal impact of patient suicide and sudden death on health care professionals (HCPs) and determine factors associated with these impacts.

Method: The sample was derived from a sudden death-controlled psychological autopsy study of suicide. HCPs were identified by deceased's next of kin, by other HCPs, from coroners' files and from medical records. The HCPs were interviewed about their last contact with the deceased and the impact of the death on their lives.

Results: Two hundred eleven HCPs were interviewed following suicide; 92 after sudden death. Suicide deaths were significantly more likely to impact upon the HCP's professional practice [suicide n = 79 (37.4%); sudden death n=9 (9.9%); χ(2) = 22.06, P < .001] and personal life [suicide deaths n = 55 (26.1%); sudden death n = 12 (13.0%); χ(2) = 5.58, P = .018] than sudden deaths. Using multinomial logistic regression, being female and suicide within a week of the consultation predicted professional and personal impacts; having less than 5 years experience predicted professional impact and receipt of support/counseling predicted personal impact.

Conclusion: Suicide deaths have a greater impact than sudden deaths upon the life of HCPs. Clinical inexperience influences impacts on professional practice and availability of support impacts on personal life.

Keywords: Health care professional; Impact; Sudden death; Suicide.