How Well Informed are Australian General Practitioners about Adolescent Suicide? Implications for Primary Prevention

Objective: To investigate the extent of knowledge of Australian general practitioners (GPs) in terms of critical information about adolescent suicide. Method: GPs knowledge about adolescent suicide was assessed using the 39-item Adolescent Suicide Behaviour Questionnaire (ASBQ), distributed to all GPs listed on the Medical Practitioners Board register of the Australian state of Victoria. Forty-three percent of GPs (n = 1694) completed and returned the survey. Results: GPs scored, on average, 71 percent of the questionnaire items correct. The mean level of incorrect and uncertain responses was 14 percent and 15 percent, respectively. However, there were wide differences in the number of correct scores between individual GPs, with some respondents scoring as few as four items correct and others as many as 38 items correct. Analysis of knowledge rates within ABSQ content domains showed that GPs were generally well informed about adolescent suicide in relation to precipitating factors, and less well informed about the remaining content domains. Conclusions: Australian GPs are, in general, moderately well informed, and are in a unique position to identify those at risk and to provide appropriate intervention (or referral). However, there is considerable variability in the accuracy of beliefs about adolescent suicide, with some GPs demonstrating excellent knowledge levels but others holding little accurate information. The extent of this variability in knowledge is a cause for concern. Findings highlight the need for ongoing education of GPs as an essential component of prevention strategies for youth suicide.