Family Members' Perspectives of Health Care System Interactions With Suicidal Patients and Responses to Suicides: Protocol for a Qualitative Research Study

Erin Bryksa; Reham Shalaby; Laura Friesen; Kirsten Klingle; Graham Gaine; Liana Urichuk; Shireen Surood; Vincent Agyapong

doi:10.2196/13797

Family Members' Perspectives of Health Care System Interactions With Suicidal Patients and Responses to Suicides: Protocol for a Qualitative Research Study

JMIR Res Protoc. 2019 Aug 9;8(8):e13797. doi: 10.2196/13797.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Addiction and Mental Health, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
² Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
³ Department of Educational Psychology, Faculty of Education, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 31400108
PMCID: PMC6709894
DOI: 10.2196/13797

Abstract

Background: Suicide is a major cause of preventable death globally and a leading cause of death by injury in Canada. To support people who experience suicidal thoughts and behaviors and ultimately prevent people from dying by suicide, it is important to understand the individual and familial experiences with the health care system.

Objective: This study aims to explore how suicide victims, and their family members, interacted with the health care system.

Methods: We will invite family members of 6 to 8 suicide victims to participate in the study by sharing their perspectives on both their relative's as well as their own interactions with the health care system. Interviews will take place in-person and will be audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed thematically.

Results: The results of the study are expected to be available in 12 months. We expect the results to shed light on the experiences of suicide victims and their family members with the health care system.

Conclusions: Our study results may inform practice, policy, and further research. They may shape how members of the health care system respond to people who are at risk of suicide and their families.

International registered report identifier (irrid): PRR1-10.2196/13797.

Keywords: family members; public health systems research; suicide.

©Erin Bryksa, Reham Shalaby, Laura Friesen, Kirsten Klingle, Graham Gaine, Liana Urichuk, Shireen Surood, Vincent Agyapong. Originally published in JMIR Research Protocols (http://www.researchprotocols.org), 09.08.2019.