Promoting Documentation of Suicidality in a Family Medicine Residency Clinic

Careful assessment of depression and suicidality are important given their prevalence and consequences for quality of life. Our study evaluated the impact of an educational intervention in a family medicine residency clinic on rates of provider documentation regarding suicidality.

We offered two brief workshops to our clinic staff and created two standardized charting templates to empower and educate providers. One template used with the patient during the clinic visit elicited key factors (eg, plan, intent, barriers) and offered treatment plan options. The second template included supportive text and resources to include in the after-visit summary. A chart review was completed, examining 350 patient records in which the patient reported thoughts of death or suicide in the preceding 2 weeks on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 ([PHQ-9], 150 over a 5-month baseline period, 150 in months 1 through 4 immediately following the workshops and template development, and 50 at follow-up months 7 through 8 following the intervention). We examined use of the templates and changes in rates of documentation of suicidality.

Rates of provider documentation of suicidality for patients who had expressed suicidal ideation on the PHQ-9 increased significantly from 57% at baseline to 78% in the postintervention phase; the rise persisted at follow-up. Rates of use of the assessment template were 58% (postintervention) and 49% (follow-up). Anecdotal provider feedback reflected appreciation of the templates for assessing and documenting challenging issues.

Brief educational interventions were associated with improved rates of provider documentation of suicidality. The longer-term impact of the workshops and templates warrant further investigation.