Citation

Campbell LA, Jackson L, Bassett R, Bowes MJ, Donahue M, Cartwright J, Kisely SR. Chronic Dis. Inj. Can. 2011; 31(4): 165-171.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Capital District Health Authority, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Health Canada)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

21978640

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Medical examiners' records can contribute to our understanding of the extent of suicide in a population, as well as associated sociodemographic and other factors. METHODS: Using a mixed methods approach, the key objective of this pilot study was to determine the sources and types of information found in the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service (NSMES) records that might inform suicide surveillance and targeted prevention efforts. A secondary objective was to describe the one-year cohort of 108 individuals who died by suicide in 2006 in terms of available sociodemographic information and health care use in the year prior to death. RESULTS: Data extraction revealed inconsistencies both across and within files in terms of the types and amounts of sociodemographic and other data collected, preventing correlational analyses. However, linkage of the records to administrative databases revealed frequent health care use in the month prior to death. CONCLUSION: The introduction of systematic data collection to NSMES investigations may yield a comprehensive dataset useful for policy development and population level research.

Language: en