Prevenção de suicídio: estratégias para modificar a percepção e o conhecimento de estudantes de Medicina

Abstract

Introduction: Suicide is a critical global public health issue. According to the World Health Organization, in the year 2012 the suicide rate reached approximately 800 thousand deaths, the equivalent of one suicide every 40 seconds. Suicide attempts are even more prevalent. Among the main risk factors there are the presence of mental disorder and the previous suicide attempt. It is known that suicide prevention is possible and should not be the task of only specialized health professionals. Hence, it is recognized the fundamental role of the general practitioner for prevention plan. It is necessary to be able to identify risk and protection factors, as well as to work on the erroneous beliefs often translated into attitudes and deep-rooted thoughts full of prejudices and judgments. A good time to prepare these professionals is during their medical graduation. Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the perception and knowledge of the fifth-year student of the Faculty of Medical Sciences and Health (FCMS-PUC/SP) regarding to the subject of suicide – prior and later to the use of active teaching-learning methodologies – and enable them to carry out the appropriate approach. Materials and methods: This is an educational, uncontrolled and unpaired, quantitative, prospective, descriptive, analytical and interventional clinical trial. A validated Suicide Behavior Attitude Questionnaire (SBAQ) was administered, along with the acquisition of sociodemographic data. The training was carried out through two stages: 1st) presentation of selected film clips on the theme, with subsequent problematization and debate; 2nd) dramatization of real situations about suicide. The Statistical Data Analysis (SPSS) version 17.0 was used to analyze the questionnaires, and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Wilcoxon tests were also administered. Results: The sample consisted of 87 fifth-year students from the FCMS-PUC/SP during the Psychiatry curriculum, predominantly Caucasian women, about 24 years old, upper middle class and Catholic. After the training, there was a significant reduction of negative feelings towards the patient who presented suicide attempt and a better perception of the professional capacity to deal with this patient. The conception about the right to suicide has hardly changed. Discussion: With the training, there was a change in perception and improvement in knowledge about the issue and it was possible to reverse erroneous beliefs. Students perceive themselves to be more capable of recognizing the patient who is at risk for suicide and feel more secure in providing care. Conclusion: It is possible to promote positive changes in students’ perception and knowledge regarding suicide through the use of active teachinglearning methodologies