@article{ref1,
title="GPs role identifying young people who self-harm: a mixed methods study",
journal="Family practice",
year="2015",
author="Fox, Fiona and Stallard, Paul and Cooney, Geraldine",
volume="32",
number="4",
pages="415-419",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Self-harm is common among young people and is evident in increasingly younger age groups. Many young people who self-harm do visit their GP but do not access specialist support. GP's can find it challenging to raise and discuss this sensitive subject with young people during short consultations. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: To explore GP's capabilities, motivations and opportunities for discussing self-harm and to identify barriers to and enablers for proactively discussing self-harm with young people. DESIGN AND SETTING: An exploratory, mixed methods study was designed comprising an online survey and a qualitative interview study with GPs in the South West of England. <br><br>METHODS: An online survey was completed by 28 GPs. Ten GPs took part by telephone, in semi-structured interviews. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistical techniques and thematic analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data. <br><br>FINDINGS from the quantitative and qualitative analysis are synthesized to illustrate GPs' skills, knowledge and perceptions about young people who self-harm. <br><br>RESULTS: Experienced GPs may underestimate the prevalence of self-harm in young people, particularly in the 11-14 age range. While consultations with young people and their carers can be challenging, GPs acknowledge that it is their role to provide support for young people who self-harm. GPs would welcome training for themselves and other practice staff in talking to young people and practical information about self-harm. <br><br>CONCLUSION: All primary care staff who provide frontline support to young people should receive education and practical training in talking about self-harm.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0263-2136",
doi="10.1093/fampra/cmv031",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmv031"
}