Attitudinal beliefs concerning suicidal behavior among healthcare professionals in the Western Costa del Sol healthcare district (Spain).

Suicide continues to be the leading external cause of death in Spain, according to the latest report on deaths by cause of death published by the National Statistics Institute (INE, for its initials in Spanish) in December 20191. According to this report, there were 3,539 deaths by suicide recorded in 2018. Ten people voluntarily ending their lives each day. Málaga province recorded 134 deaths by suicide in 2018, being therefore one of the provinces with the highest incidence in the autonomous community of Andalucía and the eighth nationally.

Creencias actitudinales sobre laconducta suicida en profesionalessanitarios del área sanitaria de laCosta del Sol Occidental / Attitudinal beliefs about suicidal suicidal behavior in health professionals health professionals in the health area of the Western Costa del Sol

Introducción: El suicidio sigue siendo la primera causa demuerte externa en España como describe el último informede defunciones según la causa de muerte publicada por elInstituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) en diciembre de 20191.Según este informe los fallecimientos por suicidio registrados en el año 2018 se situaron en 3.539 fallecimientos. Diezpersonas se quitan la vida de forma voluntaria diariamente.La provincia de Málaga registró 134 muertes por suicidio enel mismo año, siendo por tanto una de las provincias conmayor incidencia en la comunidad autónoma de Andalucíay la octava a nivel nacional.Metodología. La muestra del estudio fueron de 135 profesionales. Se trata de un estudio transversal descriptivo deperiodo mediante encuesta, realizado entre los profesionales sanitarios de un Área Sanitaria de Málaga. Las creenciasactitudinales fueron valoradas a través del Cuestionariode Creencias Actitudinales sobre Comportamiento Suicida(CCCS-18) que incluye cuatro factores: legitimización delsuicidio, suicidio en enfermos terminarles, dimensión moraly propio suicidio, medidas con una escala de respuesta enpromedio de 1 a 7 puntos, identificando creencias estigmatizantes aquellas puntuaciones promedias inferiores a 3,5.Resultados. Un total de 135 profesionales completaronel cuestionario, siendo un 58,5 % enfermeras, 25,9 % facultativos y 15,6 % trabajadores sociosanitarios. La puntuaciónmedia de la escala CCCS-18 fue de 3,6 (DE: 1,17) puntos,hallándose diferencias significativas en función de la profesión (p: 0,043), con una media 3,22 (DE: 1,17) en facultativos,3,66 (DE: 1,02) en enfermeras y 3,99 (DE: 1,52) en trabajadores sociosanitarios. En análisis por factores, se hallaronpuntuaciones promedias en la muestra inferior a 3,5, tantoen factor “legitimación del suicidio” (media: 2,59; DE: 1,28),como en factor “propio suicidio” (media: 2,9; DE: 1,47).Conclusiones. (AU)

Introduction: Suicide continues to be the leading external cause of death in Spain, according to the latest report ondeaths by cause of death published by the National StatisticsInstitute (INE, for its initials in Spanish) in December 20191.According to this report, there were 3,539 deaths by suiciderecorded in 2018. Ten people voluntarily ending their liveseach day. Málaga province recorded 134 deaths by suicide in2018, being therefore one of the provinces with the highestincidence in the autonomous community of Andalucía andthe eighth nationally.Method. This descriptive, cross-sectional period-prevalencesurvey of health professionals was carried out in one MálagaHealthcare Area (Spain). The main outcome variable was attitudinal beliefs, which were evaluated using the Questionnaire onAttitudinal Beliefs towards Suicide Behavior (CCCS-18), whichincludes four factors: legitimization of suicide, suicide in terminating patients, moral dimension and suicide itself, measuredwith an average response scale of 1 to 7 points, identifying stigmatizing attitudes or beliefs those average scores lower than 3.5.Results. A total of 135 health professionals completedthe questionnaire, being 58.5% nurses, 25.9% doctors and15.6% social health workers. The mean score of the CCCS-18scale was 3.6 (SD: 1.17) points, finding significant differences depending on the profession (p: 0.043), with a mean 3.22(SD: 1.17) in physicians, 3.66 (SD: 1.02) in nurses, and 3.99(SD: 1.52) in social health workers. In analysis by factors,mean scores were found in the sample below 3.5 both in thefactor “legitimation of suicide” (mean: 2.59; SD: 1.28), andin the factor “own suicide” (mean: 2 , 9; SD: 1.47). (AU)