Computer Administered Safety Planning for Individuals at Risk for Suicide: Development and Usability Testing

Area of Science:

• Digital mental health interventions
• Suicide prevention strategies
• Human-computer interaction in healthcare

Background:

• Safety planning is a crucial intervention for suicide prevention, but its lengthy completion time can hinder clinical adoption.
• A self-administered, web-based application offers a potential solution to reduce clinician burden and enhance plan accessibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design, develop, and evaluate the usability of a web-based, self-administered safety planning application.
• To assess the application's impact on suicidal ideation and coping abilities.

Main Methods:

• A user-centered design approach was employed by a multidisciplinary team.
• Usability testing was conducted with suicidal patients using observations, ratings, and Think Aloud procedures.
• Pre- and post-engagement assessments measured suicidal ideation intensity and perceived coping ability.

Main Results:

• Thirty participants successfully created safety plans, with 67% completing all six steps.
• Usability ratings were generally strong, though some steps required modification for clarity.
• Significant reductions in suicidal ideation (P=.02) and improvements in coping ability (P=.05) were observed post-use.

Conclusions:

• The study identified key components for maximizing the usability of self-administered web-based safety planning tools.
• The application shows promise as an adjunct to clinical care, aiding in safety plan creation and revision.