Should suicide risk assessment be embedded in undergraduate dental curricula?

TY - JOUR

T1 - Should suicide risk assessment be embedded in undergraduate dental curricula?

AU - Kelly, Niamh

AU - Kilgariff, Julie k.

N1 - Copyright: © The Author(s) under exclusive licence to the British Dental Association 2023.

PY - 2023/4/28

Y1 - 2023/4/28

N2 - Aims and objectives: The aim of this Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle was to establish if undergraduate students believe they have a role to play in suicide risk assessment, and to discuss the implementation of suicide risk prevention into the undergraduate dental curriculum. Data gathered informed development of a subsequent suicide risk assessment educational workshop. Methodology: An online questionnaire was disseminated to undergraduate students as part of a quality improvement service evaluation within a UK dental hospital and school. This sought to gain information on attitudes to suicide prevention, previous suicide awareness training, and the appetite and potential barriers to future training. Results: A response rate of 23% (n = 30) was achieved. In total, 87% of undergraduate students responding reported having no experience or training in the identification of suicidal patients, 97% of respondents expressed a desire for training, and 80% stated not knowing what to do if a patient disclosed suicidal thoughts during an appointment. Conclusion: The dental team have a role to play in suicide risk assessment and the signposting of at-risk patients to appropriate services. To embed this within daily practice, awareness and training must be introduced to undergraduate curricula.

AB - Aims and objectives: The aim of this Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle was to establish if undergraduate students believe they have a role to play in suicide risk assessment, and to discuss the implementation of suicide risk prevention into the undergraduate dental curriculum. Data gathered informed development of a subsequent suicide risk assessment educational workshop. Methodology: An online questionnaire was disseminated to undergraduate students as part of a quality improvement service evaluation within a UK dental hospital and school. This sought to gain information on attitudes to suicide prevention, previous suicide awareness training, and the appetite and potential barriers to future training. Results: A response rate of 23% (n = 30) was achieved. In total, 87% of undergraduate students responding reported having no experience or training in the identification of suicidal patients, 97% of respondents expressed a desire for training, and 80% stated not knowing what to do if a patient disclosed suicidal thoughts during an appointment. Conclusion: The dental team have a role to play in suicide risk assessment and the signposting of at-risk patients to appropriate services. To embed this within daily practice, awareness and training must be introduced to undergraduate curricula.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85156205755

U2 - 10.1038/s41415-023-5736-6

DO - 10.1038/s41415-023-5736-6

M3 - Article

C2 - 37117368

SN - 0007-0610

VL - 234

SP - 601

EP - 605

JO - British Dental Journal

JF - British Dental Journal

IS - 8

ER -