Prevention of suicidal behavior in institutionalized elderly population: development and validation of a simulation...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Mental Health
• Medical Education

Background:

• Suicidal behavior is a significant concern in institutionalized elderly populations.
• Effective prevention strategies require specialized training for healthcare professionals.
• Existing educational tools may not adequately address the nuances of elderly suicide prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a simulation-based teaching script for suicide prevention.
• To target healthcare professionals and students in training.
• To improve care for institutionalized elderly individuals at risk of suicide.

Main Methods:

• A two-stage methodological study.
• Development of a simulation script based on best practices and evidence.
• Virtual validation by twelve Brazilian specialists using sociodemographic questionnaires and reliability analyses (Content Validity Index, Gwet's AC1).

Main Results:

• The developed script achieved high agreement (> 0.80) and reliability among specialists.
• Reliability scores ranged from satisfactory (0.743) to excellent (0.969).
• The content was deemed adequate for critical reflection and care plan development.

Conclusions:

• The simulation script is a reliable and valid tool for training.
• It enhances healthcare professionals' and students' knowledge of suicide prevention in the elderly.
• Integration into curricula can foster improved preventive actions for institutionalized older adults.