Suicide Risk Screening for Head and Neck Cancer Patients: An Implementation Study

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Mental Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients face elevated suicide risk.
• Limited research exists on suicide risk screening (SRS) for this population.
• Electronic SRS implementation in routine HNC care requires evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess oncology professionals' perspectives on the feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of an electronic SRS program for HNC patients.
• To identify barriers and facilitators for implementing SRS in routine oncology care.
• To gather recommendations for optimizing SRS in HNC patient care.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods study involving a single-site implementation of an electronic SRS program.
• Surveys and interviews were conducted with oncology staff (N=29 survey, N=25 interview).
• Quantitative measures of feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness were used, supplemented by qualitative data.

Main Results:

• Nurses and medical assistants reported lower feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of SRS compared to other staff.
• Staff identified needs for additional personnel, enhanced training, and accessible screening modalities.
• Revisions to patient-reported outcomes were suggested to improve suicide risk prediction.

Conclusions:

• Staff perspectives on implementing SRS in HNC care varied significantly.
• Optimizing workflow and reducing staff burden are crucial for large-scale SRS implementation.
• Strategies like improved training, diverse completion methods, and refined risk assessment tools are necessary.