Pediatric residents' experiences with suicidal patients : implications for training

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Pediatric Medicine
• Medical Education

Background:

• Rising rates of suicide attempts and completions in children and adolescents.
• Growing importance of secondary suicide prevention in primary care settings.
• Need for enhanced training for pediatricians and primary care providers in suicide risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document the qualitative and quantitative clinical experiences of pediatric residents with suicidal youth.
• To identify implications for improving resident training programs.
• To inform the role of psychiatrists in training primary care providers.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive study utilizing interview data.
• Unique cohort of 19 graduating pediatric residents from two residency programs.
• Exploration of clinical experiences with suicidal children and adolescents.

Main Results:

• Detailed qualitative and quantitative insights into residents' experiences with suicidal youth.
• Identified gaps and areas for improvement in current pediatric residency training.
• Understanding of the practical challenges faced by residents in suicide risk assessment.

Conclusions:

• Effective training is crucial for pediatricians and primary care providers in assessing suicide risk.
• Psychiatrists are likely to be key in developing and delivering this training.
• Findings offer practical implications for enhancing the preparedness of future physicians.