Patient-Centered Suicide Prevention Care Delivery Among Established Integrated Primary Care Providers

Background: Identifying gaps in skill levels and increasing access to training focused on patient-centered skill delivery among integrated primary care providers (i.e., primary care providers, such as physicians and embedded behavioral health providers in primary care, such as psychologists) are needed to improve suicide prevention care. Aims: This pilot study examined an adapted suicide prevention measurement tool's acceptability and feasibility among established (nontrainee) integrated primary care providers and examined preliminary validity of total scores with patient experience. Methods: Thirty-three providers completed a virtual simulation, which was rated using the suicide prevention measurement tool. Twenty-four primary care patients also listened to four pre-recorded simulations with previously agreed upon scores using the measurement tool to preliminarily examine construct validity with the patient's experience. Descriptive statistics for primary study variables (e.g., acceptability) were calculated. Results: Findings suggest that this suicide prevention tool is feasible and acceptable among established integrated primary care providers. There was also preliminary support for its validity. Limitations: The sample is small. Conclusion: Utilizing an evidence-based suicide prevention measurement tool, with good feasibility and acceptability, may be an important next step to address the gaps in suicide training to achieve high-quality suicide prevention care.