@article{ref1,
title="Patterns of follow-up mental health care after hospitalization for suicide-related behaviors among older adults in South Korea",
journal="Journal of affective disorders",
year="2024",
author="Kim, Chungah and Jin, Hyunju and Kang, Goneui and Dusing, Gabriel Joun and Chum, Antony",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with receiving follow-up mental healthcare within 7 days and 30 days after hospitalization for suicide-related behaviors (SRB) among older adults in South Korea. <br><br>METHODS: Data from the Korean National Health Information Database were used, including information on sociodemographic variables and healthcare utilization. The study cohort consisted of individuals born in 1950 or before with a prior hospitalization record for suicide attempts or probable suicide attempts. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to predict the odds of receiving follow-up care within 7 days and 30 days, adjusting for covariates. <br><br>RESULTS: Among the 37,595 older adults discharged from hospitalization for SRB, 29.13 % and 37.86 % received follow-up care within 7 days and 30 days, respectively. Follow-up care was more common among younger individuals, women, those with higher socio-economic status (SES), urban residents, and individuals with comorbidities. <br><br>CONCLUSION: The provision of mental health follow-up care for older adults after hospitalization for suicide attempts is inadequate in South Korea. Increasing access to follow-up care among those with lower income, residing in rural areas, and older age is crucial. Public awareness campaigns, stigma reduction training for healthcare providers, and system-level changes, such as telemedicine and integrated care pathways, can help bridge the healthcare gap and reduce suicide mortality among older adults.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0165-0327",
doi="10.1016/j.jad.2024.01.089",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.01.089"
}