Revista Brasileira de Educação Médica
On-line version ISSN 1981-5271
Abstract
Attitudes of medical students toward suicide. Rev. Bras. Educ. Med. [online]. 2014, vol.38, n.4, pp.470-476. ISSN 1981-5271. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-55022014000400008.
INTRODUCTION:
Both health professionals and students care forpatientsin depression, crisis, orare suicidal, and their attitudes toward such individuals can be a key factor in the outcome of cases.
OBJECTIVE:
To verify students' attitudes towards suicidal patients. Method: A cross-sectional study was developed in 2013 with students from the Barbacena University Medical School, in the state of Minas Gerais. The medical students were evaluated and divided into two groups: pre-clinical and post-clinical. The instrument used in this study was the Questionnaire on Attitudes towards Suicidal Behavior.
RESULTS:
Acomparison of the mean scores obtained in each group revealed a significant difference, with the higher score found among the post-clinical group (p=0.028). This finding indicates that students in the later periods of their course exhibit more positive attitudes towards suicide when compared to beginner medical students.
CONCLUSION:
It was noted that more contact with suicidal patients and greater theoretical knowledge about suicide and its determinants helped improve the students' attitudes towards this issue.
Keywords : Suicide; Students; Attitudes; Medicine; Medical Education.