Psychological Medicine
- Psychological Medicine / Volume 10 / Issue 03 / August 1980, pp 483-491
- Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1980
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0033291700047371 (About DOI), Published online: 09 July 2009
Research Article
Comparison of doctors and nurses in the assessment of deliberate self-poisoning patients
J. Catalana1 c1, P. Marsacka1, K. E. Hawtona1, D. Whitwella1 p1, J. Fagga1 and J. H. J. Bancrofta1 p2
a1 Oxford University Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford
Abstract
The assessments of deliberate self-poisoning patients carried out by 8 doctors and 8 nurses were compared. Both groups of staff had undergone special training in the assessment procedure. The adequacy of the assessments was determined by blind judges' ratings of transcripts of assessment interviews, comparisons of the types of treatment offered and repetition of self-poisoning. The attitudes of the patients and their general practitioners were also investigated.
No major differences were found between the assessments of the 2 groups of subjects. It is concluded that nurses under supervision of a senior psychiatrist can safely carry out the assessment of self-poisoning patients, provided they have received appropriate training. The findings suggest that services in which nurses assess most self-poisoning patients could be established in district general hospitals. This would reduce the demands currently placed on psychiatrists and physicians.
Correspondence:
c1 Address for correspondence: Dr J. Catalan, Oxford University Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford.
p1 Present address: Department of Psychiatry, The University of Bristol, The Medical School, Bristol BS8 1TH.
p2 Present address: MRC Reproductive Biology Unit, Edinburgh.
