The Investigation of the Use of Emergency Medical Services for Geriatric Patients Due to Suicide

Abstract

Ageing is a physiological process, and inevitable psychological and physical changes occur after the age of 65 in every individual. Elderly suicide is a crucial public health concern that is still largely ignored worldwide. The purpose of this study is to investigate the use of emergency medical services by geriatric patients due to suicide. Materials and Method: We obtained the demographic and clinical information of the patients from the records. We retrospectively examined the data of all patients, who are 65 and older, enrolled in Turkey for the suicide attempt between September 2018 and August 2019. Results: Our study included 769 cases. There was a statistically significant difference between the two genders in terms of the number of completed suicides (p <0.001). The most common suicide method was drug use (30.8%). In total, 36.7% of women and 62.7% of men used violent methods for suicide. We found a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of violent method usage (p <0.001). There was a statistically significant difference between the age groups in terms of completed suicide percentages (p = 0.008), and the cases reported from urban and rural areas in terms of mortality (p <0.001). Conclusion: The percentage of completed suicides increases with age, and the careful evaluation of suicide attempts is vital in reducing the risk of suicide-related death. The process starting from the moment of notification of suicide attempt to the emergency dispatch centre must be managed effectively and quickly by trained and experienced medical teams.

Classification of suicidal behavior calls in emergency medical services: a systematic review

“…The studies were conducted in various countries: Eight in Spain [ 10 , 11 , 20 , 22 , 25 , 26 , 31 , 40 ]; three in the United Kingdom (UK) [ 28 , 33 , 41 ]; two in the United States of America (USA) [ 23 , 29 ], Australia [ 19 , 27 ], Brazil [ 24 , 42 ], and Turkey [ 34 , 35 ]; and one in Switzerland [ 30 ], Norway [ 32 ], Korea [ 36 ], Russia [ 37 ], France [ 38 ], and Japan [ 39 ]. According to the data collection period, two studies collected data for less than one year [ 33 , 38 ] and fourteen for one year [ 11 , 19 , 20 , 23 – 25 , 28 , 29 , 31 , 32 , 34 , 37 , 41 , 42 ]. Another study gathered data for two years [ 40 ], three for three years [ 35 , 36 , 39 ], one for six years [ 27 ], two for seven years [ 10 , 22 ], and another two for ten years [ 26 , 30 ].…”

“…(2010) [ 32 ] Norway Norway (5,367,580) 2006 Hospital database 5,672 8 (0.2%) 62,5 33 John A. (2016) [ 33 ] United Kingdom Wales (3,153,000) December 2007 – February 2008 Coordination Center database 92,331 175 (0.2%) 85 34 Kayipmaz S. (2020a) [ 34 ] Turkey Turkey (83,154,997) September 2018 – August 2019 Coordination Center database Not specified 769 77,5 35 Kayipmaz S. (2020b) [ 35 ] Turkey Ankara (5,639,076) January 2017 – June 2019 Coordination Center database Not specified 6,777 77,5 36 Kim SJ. (2015) [ 36 ] Korea Korea (48,000,000) 2008 – 2010 Ambulance records 64,155 5,743 (8.9%) 67,5 37 Krayeva YV.…”

“…Seven studies (28%) classified the calls during the telephone call [ 20 , 23 , 29 , 31 , 38 , 40 , 41 ]; nine studies (36%) when the professional attended the patient at the scene [ 11 , 24 , 26 – 28 , 30 , 33 , 37 , 39 ], and five studies (20%) in both instances [ 10 , 19 , 22 , 25 , 32 ]. Four studies did not indicate when the call was classified (16%) [ 34 – 36 , 42 ] (Table 3 ).…”

“…(2010) [ 32 ] Answering the call Attending at the scene Physician ICPC-2 P77 (Suicidal behavior) 33 John A. (2016) [ 33 ] Attending at the scene Physician Not specified Suicidal ideation or intent 34 Kayipmaz S. (2020a) [ 34 ] Not specified Not specified Not specified Not specified 35 Kayipmaz S. (2020b) [ 35 ] Not specified Not specified Not specified Not specified 36 Kim SJ. (2015) [ 36 ] Not specified Not specified Not specified Not specified 37 Krayeva YV.…”

“…Four studies [ 10 , 19 , 22 , 25 ] included calls in more than one professional category due to the classification being carried out by more than one professional. The six remaining studies [ 11 , 34 – 36 , 41 , 42 ] did not specify who was responsible for assigning the codes (Table 3 ).…”