Citation

Poulin C, Houle J. Psychiatr. Danub. 2006; 18(Suppl 1): 144.

Affiliation

Montreal Public Health Department, 1301 Sherbrooke, East, H2L 1M3 Montreal, Canada. cpoulin@santepub-mtl.qc.ca.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Facultas Universitatis Studiorum Zagrabiensis - Danube Symposion of Psychiatry)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

16964142

Abstract

The goal of this study is to determine the potential of using hospital emergency department computer systems as tools to monitor suicide attempts treated in these emergency rooms. More specifically, the objectives are to draw up an inventory of the various computer systems used in hospitals and to evaluate the validity of the data collected, comparing them with information included in the patients' files. After completing a tour of emergency rooms in general hospitals, we put together a profile of the different computer systems used and verified the nature of the information contained in these systems concerning suicide attempts. We conducted a pilot project to estimate the scope of underreporting of suicide attempts by comparing data in the computer systems with that in patient files. Analysis of the utilisation of computer systems in hospitals revealed that the information recorded varies widely. Moreover, a comparison of the information available in these systems with that included in medical files shows that data validity and reliability are problematic. We suggest several strategies to improve the validity of data on suicide attempts, including training and increasing awareness of staff in emergency departments, and other incentive measures so that computer systems can be standardised.

Language: en