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Abstract
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OBJECTIVE: Deliberate self-poisoning is a frequent suicide mechanism in Pakistan. Documenting details of such events is essential for secondary prevention. This study assessed the quality of medical reporting of suspected self-poisoning patients in Pakistan
Methods: This case series study was conducted at the Federal Government Poly Clinic, Islamabad. Medical charts of all patients presenting to the emergency department with suspected self-poisoning from Oct 1, 2011 to Dec 31, 2011 were reviewed. Information extracted included age, gender, presenting complaints, substance used, treatment, and outcome (e.g., discharge).
Results: Of 87 patients, two-thirds were 25 year or less (68%), and females (n=54, 62%). Frequent presenting complaints were vomiting (32%), altered consciousness (22%) and abdominal pain (21%). Common substances used were benzodiazepines (n=15), analgesics (n=10), organophosphates (n=8), and toilet cleaner/bleach (n=7). Psychiatrist consultation was taken or planned in 28% (n=24) of patients. Only one of two patients (n=43) had discharge records and 24% had a planned follow-up.
Conclusion: This study found that information about risk factors and follow-up care was not documented in about 30-96% of self-poisoning patients.
FINDINGS suggested that health care professionals, especially emergency department staff may need to be sensitized about documenting this information for facilitating secondary prevention.
Keywords: Injury; self-harm; suicide; Pakistan, self-poisoning.
Copyrights belong to the Author(s). Suicidology Online (SOL) is a peer-reviewed open-access journal publishing under the Creative Commons Licence 3.0. ISSN 2078-5488
Language: en |