The attitudes of emergency service workers towards attempted suicide cases and its relation to burnout and job satisfaction

Abstract

Emergency healthcare is the first sight of intervention for suicide attempts. Therefore, the attitudes of emergency health personnel towards suicidal tendencies are of great importance. The aims of this study are; to determine the attitudes and behaviors of emergency service workers towards attempted suicide cases, which are frequently encountered in emergency services, and to determine whether they are influenced by job satisfaction and burnout. The sample of the descriptive correlational study consists of 282 healthcare professionals working in the emergency services of Tokat and its districts. The data were collected using a questionnaire method through a personal information form, a scale determining the attitudes of emergency health workers towards attempted suicide cases (SAEHS), occupational burnout inventory (OBI) and job satisfaction survey (JSS). A total of 282 healthcare personnel, 159 women and 123 men, participated in the study. The participants had a positive attitude towards patients who attempted suicide, and the results indicated that this was not affected by variables such as age, gender, level of education, profession, marital status, years of experience, weekly working hours and shift schedules. While there was a significant positive, moderate or weak correlation between SAEHS and its sub-groups; a negative correlation with very low significance was found between SAEHS and OBI. On the other hand, the results suggested that there was a positive correlation with very low significance between SAEHS and JSS. Although emergency service workers approach attempted suicide patients with a positive attitude, this can be improved with an increase in job satisfaction and a decrease in burnout. It would be beneficial to include healthcare professionals in pre and post-graduation training programs regarding suicide cases and to collaborate with psychiatric services.