Differential Preferences for the Caring Contacts Suicide Prevention Intervention Based on Patient Characteristics

The Caring Contacts suicide prevention intervention has been promoted by the Joint Commission, given its effectiveness, high reach, and cost effectiveness. Despite its increased application, no study has examined whether patient characteristics influence perceptions of the intervention, which may in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archives of suicide research 2020-07, Vol.24 (3), p.301-312
Main Authors: Ammerman, Brooke A., Gebhardt, Heather M., Lee, Jacob M., Tucker, Raymond P., Matarazzo, Bridget B., Reger, Mark A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age differences
Caregiving
Caring Contacts
Caring Letters
Cost analysis
Customer satisfaction
Demography
Email
Health promotion
Inpatient care
Intervention
Mental disorders
Mental health care
Older people
patient characteristics
Prevention programs
Suicide
Suicide prevention
Suicides & suicide attempts
Technology
Veterans
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Summary:The Caring Contacts suicide prevention intervention has been promoted by the Joint Commission, given its effectiveness, high reach, and cost effectiveness. Despite its increased application, no study has examined whether patient characteristics influence perceptions of the intervention, which may inform implementation efforts and ultimately impact effectiveness. One hundred fifty-four veterans were recruited from a Veterans Affairs psychiatric inpatient unit. Participants completed a survey to provide feedback on preferences, including the message correspondent, format (e.g., postcard, email), the importance of handwriting (vs. typed), visual presentation, and schedule for mailings. Results demonstrated that Caring Contacts preferences did not differ by most variables, including military rank, combat deployment history, or most personal technology use characteristics. Some demographic differences were identified, especially by age. More older veterans preferred messages to be sent in a physical letter compared to younger veterans, but if messages were sent via postal mail, younger veterans had a stronger preference for messages to be handwritten and sent using real stamps and colorful envelopes. Overall, findings suggest that few Caring Contacts adaptations are needed based on patient characteristics. Programs targeting older cohorts should consider postal mail formats for Caring Contacts.
ISSN:1381-1118
1543-6136
DOI:10.1080/13811118.2019.1632231