Implementation and validation study of the S-RAP digital tool in Primary Health Care

• Grant number: 24/10266-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: August 01, 2024
• End date: October 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Preventive Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Rossi Menezes
• Grantee: Elisa Micaela Costa Ferreira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/12901-9 - National Center for Research and Innovation in Mental Health (CISM), AP.ESP

Abstract

Based on WHO World Health Statistics, in 2019, 97,339 people died by suicide in the Americas and it is estimated that suicide attempts may exceed this number by 20 times. When looking at young people aged 15 to 29, suicide was the fourth cause of death. According to research, attempts are related to mental disorders, mainly mood and depression. Primary Health Care (PHC) is the community's main gateway to any health care, including mental health. And, advocating and prioritizing the science of care through research and teaching professional practices in PHC services in mental health is in line with the sustainable objectives of the United Nations (UN). Objectives: The general objective of the epidemiological component of this study is to develop and evaluate a digital tool for screening suicidal ideation that is cost-effective and valid for use in Primary Health Care. While the general objective of the qualitative component is to explore perceptions and experiences about the use of the digital tool Suicide Risk Assessment Protocol (S-RAP) by UBS health professionals involved in screening and intervention of suicide risk among users of health services. Method: This is a study of the implementation of a digital tool for tracking suicide risk and referral to reception, already used in previous clinical research in primary care in São Paulo, Brazil and in Lima, Peru, built based on the criteria of the World Health Organization - WHO for screening and reception to combat suicide in the general population. Data collection will be carried out through online questionnaires aimed at professionals in health, care and administrative services, with the intention of ascertaining the knowledge they have on the topic of suicide, forms and methods of risk assessment, as well as the flow of referral of service users at risk of suicide, "for" contact with professionals, the snowball strategy is proposed. Sociodemographic data and responses to the S-RAP questionnaire will also be collected. Data analysis will consist of analyzing the validity of the S-RAP and whether the tested scale meets the necessary and sufficient conditions for the desired fundamental measurement. We will calculate the incidence of suicidal ideation in each of the severity strata (from 1 to 5) during the study data collection period. Finally, we will carry out an analysis of the satisfaction of workers at the UBSs involved with the tool, its use, ease, therapeutic possibilities and learning facilitated by the training offered.