Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1893/25941
Appears in Collections:Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport Journal Articles
Peer Review Status: Refereed
Title: Effectiveness of General Practitioner training to improve suicide awareness and knowledge and skills towards depression
Author(s): Coppens, Evelien
Audenhove, Chantal van
Gusmao, Ricardo
Purebl, Gyorgy
Szekely, Andras
Maxwell, Margaret
Koburger, Nicole
Arensman, Ella
Hegerl, Ulrich
Contact Email: margaret.maxwell@stir.ac.uk
Keywords: depression
general practitioner
prevention
suicide
training
Issue Date: Feb-2018
Date Deposited: 2-Oct-2017
Citation: Coppens E, Audenhove Cv, Gusmao R, Purebl G, Szekely A, Maxwell M, Koburger N, Arensman E & Hegerl U (2018) Effectiveness of General Practitioner training to improve suicide awareness and knowledge and skills towards depression. <i>Journal of Affective Disorders</i>, 227, pp. 17-23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2017.09.039
Abstract: Background&nbsp; General Practitioners (GPs) are well placed as gatekeepers for managing depression and suicidal ideation but not always well prepared. Capacity building has therefore been recommended as a useful strategy for suicide prevention. This study aimed to examine whether GPs&rsquo; knowledge and attitudes towards and confidence to deal with depression and suicide improve after following a training program.&nbsp; Methods&nbsp; As part of the OSPI-Europe multilevel intervention, a standardized training on depression and suicide was provided to 208 GPs in three European countries. Core outcomes were assessed using the Depression Attitude Questionnaire, the Attitude towards Suicide Prevention Scale, and the Morriss Confidence Scale. Data were collected before and after training, and at three to six months follow-up.&nbsp; Results&nbsp; At baseline, GPs demonstrated various stigmatizing attitudes towards depression and low optimism about the therapeutic treatment of depression. They showed moderately positive attitudes towards suicide prevention but felt little confident in dealing with depression and suicide in daily practice. The training resulted in improved knowledge, attitudes and confidence regarding depression and suicide and their prevention and treatment. At follow-up, only the increase in confidence to deal with depression and suicide was sustained.&nbsp; Limitations&nbsp; The Depression Attitude Questionnaire has rather weak psychometric properties. Other external factors may have contributed to the observed training effects as the study included no control group.&nbsp; Conclusions&nbsp; The OSPI-Europe training program was able to improve the GPs&rsquo; attitudes towards suicide prevention, several attitudes towards depression and its treatment as well as the GPs&rsquo; confidence to deal with depression and suicide in everyday practice. At follow, only the GPs&rsquo; confidence to deal with depression and suicide was preserved.
DOI Link: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.09.039
Rights: This item has been embargoed for a period. During the embargo please use the Request a Copy feature at the foot of the Repository record to request a copy directly from the author. You can only request a copy if you wish to use this work for your own research or private study. Accepted refereed manuscript of: Coppens E, Audenhove Cv, Gusmao R, Purebl G, Szekely A, Maxwell M, Koburger N, Arensman E & Hegerl U (2018) Effectiveness of General Practitioner training to improve suicide awareness and knowledge and skills towards depression, Journal of Affective Disorders, 227, pp. 17-23. DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.09.039 © 2017, Elsevier. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Licence URL(s): http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

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