Author(s): Vedana, Kelly ; Santos, José Carlos Pereira dos ; Zanetti, Ana ; Miasso, Adriana ; Ventura, Carla ; Pillon, Sandra ; Souza, Jacqueline ; Silva, Aline
Date: 2020
Origin: Repositório Científico da Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Coimbra
Subject(s): attempted suicide; Attitudes; nursing; education; students
Background/Aims The attitudes toward suicidal behaviour and related factors are still not understood and may influence the quality of assistance. The attitudes of nursing students regarding suicide and associated factors was investigated in this study. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out with 351 nursing students in a Portuguese higher education institution. Data were collected in 2017-2018, using a self-administered sociodemographic questionnaire and the Suicide Behaviour Attitude Questionnaire. Statistical analyses included Mann-Whitney's U-test, Student's t-test and Spearman's correlation. Results The students had more educational exposure to suicide during the undergraduate course than in extracurricular activities or interpersonal contact. Students nearing the end of the course and older students had more positive attitudes and greater perception of their professional competence. Negative attitudes were associated with condemnatory attitudes and a lower self-perception of professional competence. Condemnatory attitudes were associated with participation in scientific events. Suicidal thoughts were associated with reading about suicide and not attending a class about this subject. Conclusions This study promotes knowledge that may support future investigations and interventions regarding provisional education and support to nursing students.
