The relationship between emergency service healthcare professionals' attitudes towards the case of suicide attempt with job satisfaction and burnout

Background and Objective: The number of suicides increases day by day. Therefore, suicides are an important social and public health problem. Emergency health services are the first place where suicide is treated. Emergency healthcare professionals, who play an important role in the treatment of suicidal individuals and the prevention of suicides, frequently encounter these cases. Thus, the attitudes of emergency healthcare professionals towards suicidal tendencies are of great importance in case of suicide. The aim of this planned study; to determine the attitudes and behaviours of the emergency healthcare professionals towards patients with frequent suicide attempts in emergency services and to determine whether they affect job satisfaction and burnout. Material and Method: The sample of the study consists of 282 health personnel working in all emergency services in Tokat and its districts and it is a descriptive correlation study. The data was collected by questionnaire method using personal information form, the scale of the attitudes of emergency healthcare professionals towards the cases of suicide (TCSAS), occupational burnout scale (OBS) and occupational satisfaction scale (OSS). In the evaluation of the data; percentage distribution, mean ± standard deviation, median (min-max), t-test, Anova and Pearson Correlation tests were used, p <0.05 was accepted. Discussion: The study included 159 women, 123 men and 193 married and 89 bachelorsout of a total of 282 health personnel. The age, gender, level of education, occupation, marital status, duration of work, weekly working hours and being on duty or not did not affect the attitude of suicide cases, and it was determined that they had a positive attitude towards patients who attempted suicide. While there was a significant, positive, moderate or weak correlation between TCSAS and its sub-dimensions; a negative, very weak and significant relationship was found between TCSAS and OBS; a positive, very weak significant relationship was found between TCSAS and OSS. Results: In order for emergency healthcare professionalsto have a positive attitude towards suicide cases; cooperation should be provided in coordination with emergency services and psychiatry service. The study should be applied to other health personnel as well, and potential problems should be identified. In spite of suicide cases, it is recommended that health professionals be included in the pre- and post-graduate education programs. Keywords: Emergency Service, Healthcare Professionals, Job Satisfaction, Burnout, Suicide Attempt