J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2019 Jun;30(3):239-247. 10.0000/jksem.2019.30.3.239.

Effectiveness of post-discharge case management of patients who attempted suicide and self-injurious behavior through mobile messenger counseling

• Jo C
• Cho Y
• Cho GC
• Lee J
• Lee J
• Kim IY
• Oh W
• Seo H
• Kim J

• KMID: 2450132
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/jksem.2019.30.3.239

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Mobile messengers are becoming common methods to communicate among people in various fields. This study investigated the effectiveness of mobile messengers as a tool for post-discharge case management of emergency department patients who attempted suicide and self-harm.
METHODS
This study was a retrospective observational study of data collected prospectively. A total of 327 patients who attempted suicide and self-harm in the emergency department were divided into two groups: a conventional protocol group with a face-to-face or phone call interview and a new protocol group with added mobile messenger counseling. The basic characteristics, such as sex, age, methods of suicide and self-harm attempt, consent for case management, and admission to a ward, were surveyed. The rates of successful case management (transfer to a local community center or follow-up to neuropsychiatric outpatient clinic, or both) were compared as a primary outcome between the two groups.
RESULTS
The conventional protocol group was 122 cases and the new protocol group was 205 cases. No significant differences in sex, age, methods of suicide and self-harm attempt, rate of consent to case management, and admission to a ward were observed between the two groups. On the other hand, the total successful management rate in mobile messenger group was higher than that of the other group (P=0.020).
CONCLUSION
This study showed that mobile messengers could be an alternative communication tool for the post-discharge case management of patients who attempted suicide and self-injurious behavior. Nevertheless, a well-designed future study might be needed to determine if that method would reduce the reattempt rate.

Keyword

Suicide; Self-injurious behavior; Cell phone

MeSH Terms

Ambulatory Care Facilities
Case Management*
Cell Phones
Counseling*
Emergency Service, Hospital
Follow-Up Studies
Hand
Humans
Methods
Observational Study
Prospective Studies
Retrospective Studies
Self-Injurious Behavior*
Suicide
Suicide, Attempted*