Predictors of Comfort and Confidence Among Medical Students in Providing Care to Patients at Risk of Suicide.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with comfort and confidence in providing care to patients at risk of suicide, in a sample of Australian medical students.

METHODS: An online cross-sectional survey was completed by 116 current medical students (42 % male) aged between 20 and 41 years (M = 25, SD = 3.8).

RESULTS: Greater personal experience of suicide and previous contact with patients with psychiatric problems were significantly associated with both increased perceived comfort and increased confidence in providing care for individuals with suicidal thoughts or behaviors, based on self-report. However, these effects may not reflect objective measures of competency and additional research is needed to assess generalizability of the findings due to the sampling method.

CONCLUSIONS: Increasing medical student contact with patients at risk of suicide through the implementation of psychiatry placements, gateway programs, and early year exposure to patients with psychiatric problems may increase perceived confidence and comfort in providing care to individuals at risk of suicide. Further research should evaluate the impact of such programs on behavioral indices of clinical competency.