University of Massachusetts Medical School Faculty Publications

Title

Emergency department safety assessment and follow-up evaluation 2: An implementation trial to improve suicide prevention

UMMS Affiliation

Department of Emergency Medicine; Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences

Publication Date

2020-08-01

Document Type

Article

Disciplines

Emergency Medicine | Health Services Administration | Health Services Research | Mental and Social Health | Patient Safety | Psychiatry | Psychiatry and Psychology

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Emergency departments (EDs) are important for preventing suicide. Historically, many patients with suicide risk are not detected during routine clinical care, and those who are often do not receive suicide-specific intervention. The original Emergency Department Safety Assessment and Follow-up Evaluation (ED-SAFE 1) study examined the implementation of universal suicide risk screening and a multi-component ED-initiated suicide prevention intervention.

PURPOSE: The ED-SAFE 2 aims to study the impact of using a continuous quality improvement approach (CQI) to improve suicide related care, with a focus on improving universal suicide risk screening in adult ED patients and evaluating implementation of a new brief intervention called the Safety Planning Intervention (SPI) into routine clinical practice. CQI is a quality management process that uses data and collaboration to drive incremental, iterative improvements. The SPI is a personalized approach that focuses on early identification of warning signs and execution of systematic steps to manage suicidal thoughts. ED-SAFE 2 will provide data on the effectiveness of CQI procedures in improving suicide-related care processes, as well as the impact of these improvements on reducing suicide-related outcomes.

METHODS: Using a stepped wedge design, eight EDs collected data cross three study phases: Baseline (retrospective), Implementation (12 months), and Maintenance (12 months). Lean methods, a specific approach to pursuing CQI which focuses on increasing value and eliminating waste, were used to evaluate and improve suicide-related care.

CONCLUSIONS: The results will build upon the success of the ED-SAFE 1 and will have a broad public health impact through promoting better suicide-related care processes and improved suicide prevention.

Keywords

Implementation science, Mental health, Quality improvement, Suicide, Suicide prevention

DOI of Published Version

10.1016/j.cct.2020.106075

Source

Boudreaux ED, Haskins BL, Larkin C, Pelletier L, Johnson SA, Stanley B, Brown G, Mattocks K, Ma Y. Emergency department safety assessment and follow-up evaluation 2: An implementation trial to improve suicide prevention. Contemp Clin Trials. 2020 Aug;95:106075. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2020.106075. Epub 2020 Jun 19. PMID: 32565041. Link to article on publisher's site

Related Resources

Link to Article in PubMed

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Contemporary clinical trials

PubMed ID

32565041

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