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Comparison of doctors and nurses in the assessment of deliberate self-poisoning patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

J. Catalan ,
P. Marsack ,
K. E. Hawton ,
D. Whitwell ,
J. Fagg  and
J. H. J. Bancroft
J. Catalan*
Affiliation:
Oxford UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford
P. Marsack
Affiliation:
Oxford UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford
K. E. Hawton
Affiliation:
Oxford UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford
D. Whitwell
Affiliation:
Oxford UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford
J. Fagg
Affiliation:
Oxford UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford
J. H. J. Bancroft
Affiliation:
Oxford UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr J. Catalan, Oxford University Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford.
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Synopsis

The assessments of deliberate self-poisoning patients carried out by 8 doctors and 8 nurses were compared. Both groups of staff had undergone special training in the assessment procedure. The adequacy of the assessments was determined by blind judges' ratings of transcripts of assessment interviews, comparisons of the types of treatment offered and repetition of self-poisoning. The attitudes of the patients and their general practitioners were also investigated.

No major differences were found between the assessments of the 2 groups of subjects. It is concluded that nurses under supervision of a senior psychiatrist can safely carry out the assessment of self-poisoning patients, provided they have received appropriate training. The findings suggest that services in which nurses assess most self-poisoning patients could be established in district general hospitals. This would reduce the demands currently placed on psychiatrists and physicians.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 10 , Issue 3 , August 1980 , pp. 483 - 491
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1980

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