@article{ref1,
title="Between moral infraction and existential crisis: exploring physicians and nurses' attitudes to suicide and the suicidal patient in Ghana",
journal="International journal of nursing studies",
year="2018",
author="Osafo, Joseph and Akotia, Charity S. and Boakye, Kofi E. and Dickson, Erica",
volume="85",
number="",
pages="118-125",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Negative attitudes of health professionals towards suicide may hamper their willingness and skills to work with attempt survivors. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore the attitudes of physicians and nurses towards suicide and the suicidal patient. <br><br>METHODS: A semi-structured qualitative interview was conducted on Twenty five (25) health professionals: (15 physicians and 10 casualty nurses) from five hospitals in Accra, the capital of Ghana. <br><br>RESULTS: Findings showed that while majority of physicians viewed suicide as an existential crisis, most of the nurses viewed it as a moral infraction. Three key attitudes towards suicide and the suicidal patient were observed: stable, dissonant and transitioned. The findings are discussed under three main themes: Contexts, Theorizing suicide, and Shades of attitudes. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Nurses and Physicians are key gatekeepers in suicide prevention in Ghana. Training is however, needed to improve both attitudes (especially for nurses) and competence towards suicide prevention in the country.<br><br>Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0020-7489",
doi="10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2018.05.017",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2018.05.017"
}