Abstract

CANO-LANGREO, M.; CICIRELLO-SALAS, S.; LOPEZ-LOPEZ, A.  and  AGUILAR-VELA, M.. Current framework of suicide and suicidal ideation in health professionals. Med. segur. trab. [online]. 2014, vol.60, n.234, pp.198-218. ISSN 1989-7790.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S0465-546X2014000100015.

Introduction: Suicide is a public health problem in many countries. Several studies have shown occupational risk factors associated with suicidal ideation and high suicide rates in health care workers with respect to the general population. Objectives: To describe the current status of suicide in health care workers and assess demographic characteristics, occupational factors associated with suicidal ideation, and trends according to geographic location and to compare them with the general population or other professions. Method: Literature review in different databases in two stages: search/selection of items and assessment of 20 selected studies. Results: Health care workers have a higher risk of suicide compared with the general population and other professions. Increased risk was observed in the areas of nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, and medicine. The medical specialties with the highest risk are anesthesiology and psychiatry, being higher in women and at an older age. Regarding the most used methods, subjects in the USA prefer firearms while in other countries they prefer an overdose of drugs. Recent unpleasant experiences/workplace harassment, burnout, and labor disputes have proven risk factors in suicidal ideation in doctors. Conclusions: There are demographic differences in the characteristics of suicide according to different studied populations. The methods employed by physicians per countries are different, possibly due to the cultural influence of each country. Associated factors have been found between risk and suicidal ideation. It would be important to work on them to develop prevention strategies in this population.

Keywords : Suicide; physicians; nurse; health personnel; work-related; risk.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in English | Spanish     · English ( pdf ) | Spanish ( pdf )