Peer-reviewed article
Rural and Non-Rural Pediatric Health Care Providers' Youth Suicide Prevention Beliefs, Attitudes, Training, and Practices.
Streicher BE, Cooley JL, Sims JG, Marvin C, Rojas D et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study surveyed 171 pediatric health care providers in Texas about their knowledge, training, and practices in youth suicide prevention. The researchers found that 70% of providers had never received formal training in suicide risk assessment for young patients, despite most expressing interest in learning. Rural and non-rural providers showed similar knowledge levels, but non-rural providers reported greater confidence in their ability to assess suicide risk. The study highlights a significant gap between providers' current responsibilities and their preparation for managing suicidal youth.
Key points
- 70% of pediatric providers reported never having participated in suicide risk assessment or intervention training for youth
- Nearly all providers expressed interest in additional training, with many willing to participate in virtual training
- Rural and non-rural providers did not significantly differ in self-reported knowledge and skills for suicide risk assessment
- Non-rural providers reported higher confidence in conducting youth suicide risk assessment compared to rural providers
- A clear gap exists between providers' training levels and their current responsibilities treating youth with suicidal ideation
Limitations
This survey relied on self-reported beliefs and practices rather than observational data of actual clinical care. The study was limited to Texas providers and may not generalize to other regions or countries with different health care systems.
Abstract
Background A substantial number of youth experience suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and those living in rural areas are at even greater risk. Pediatric health care providers tend to be the first point of contact for youth at risk for suicide. Thus, there is a need to understand rural and non-rural providers' beliefs, training, and practices in youth suicide prevention. Objective We examined providers' beliefs, previous training, and current practices in youth suicide prevention, with attention to potential differences across providers working in rural and non-rural areas. Method Participants were 171 pediatric health care providers in Texas, working in primary care or pediatric settings, who completed an online survey. Results Overall, 70% of participants reported having never participated in suicide risk assessment/intervention training for youth patients, with no significant difference between rural and non-rural providers. Nearly all providers expressed an interest in additional training, with many reporting a willingness to engage in a virtual training. Rural and non-rural providers were not significantly different in their self-reported knowledge and skills related to suicide risk assessment/intervention. However, providers' responses differed in confidence ratings; that is, non-rural providers' ratings of their confidence in conducting youth suicide risk assessment/intervention were higher compared to rural providers. Conclusions Our findings highlight a clear gap between pediatric health care providers' previous training and current responsibilities in treating child and adolescent patients experiencing suicidal ideation and behavior. Implications and future directions are discussed.