[Death certificates for suicides: quality investigation based on police records].
Todesbescheinigungen zu Suiziden: Qualitätsuntersuchung auf Grundlage von Polizeiakten.
Causes of death
Death certificates
Mental health
Self-murder
Suicide
Journal
Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz
ISSN: 1437-1588
Titre abrégé: Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz
Pays: Germany
ID NLM: 101181368
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Dec 2019
Dec 2019
Historique:
pubmed:
7
11
2019
medline:
18
12
2019
entrez:
7
11
2019
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Death certificates are the basis for German mortality statistics, including suicide statistics. To examine death certificates that are issued in the context of suicide with special focus on the quality of doctors' entries, especially indications of suicide and the stated association between underlying illness and cause of death. Data from the Allgäu Suicide Study were used. Police records (N = 626) containing the results of suicide investigations as well as death certificates were analysed. There is great heterogeneity as to how physicians issue death certificates in the context of suicide. Clear indications of suicide are often missing and underlying illnesses are seldom mentioned. Nevertheless, there are only minor differences between the number of suicides recorded by the police compared to official statistics. To improve the quality of death certificates in the context of suicide, physicians should give clearer indications of suicide and put more focus on logically explaining the causes of death. The mortality of mental illnesses might be underestimated when mental illnesses are not regularly mentioned as a potential cause for suicide.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Death certificates are the basis for German mortality statistics, including suicide statistics.
OBJECTIVES
OBJECTIVE
To examine death certificates that are issued in the context of suicide with special focus on the quality of doctors' entries, especially indications of suicide and the stated association between underlying illness and cause of death.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
METHODS
Data from the Allgäu Suicide Study were used. Police records (N = 626) containing the results of suicide investigations as well as death certificates were analysed.
RESULTS
RESULTS
There is great heterogeneity as to how physicians issue death certificates in the context of suicide. Clear indications of suicide are often missing and underlying illnesses are seldom mentioned. Nevertheless, there are only minor differences between the number of suicides recorded by the police compared to official statistics.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
To improve the quality of death certificates in the context of suicide, physicians should give clearer indications of suicide and put more focus on logically explaining the causes of death. The mortality of mental illnesses might be underestimated when mental illnesses are not regularly mentioned as a potential cause for suicide.
Identifiants
pubmed: 31690975
doi: 10.1007/s00103-019-03039-0
pii: 10.1007/s00103-019-03039-0
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Review
Langues
ger
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM