Public Service Announcements to Change Attitudes about Youth Suicide: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Prevention
public health announcements
suicide
Journal
Archives of suicide research : official journal of the International Academy for Suicide Research
ISSN: 1543-6136
Titre abrégé: Arch Suicide Res
Pays: England
ID NLM: 9504451
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Historique:
pubmed:
2
6
2020
medline:
30
11
2021
entrez:
2
6
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Youth suicide is a major public health concern worldwide. Public service announcements (PSAs) may have a role in suicide prevention, as part of broader suicide prevention campaigns. We conducted a double-blind four arm randomized controlled trial in which 18 to 24 year olds were allocated to watch one of three suicide prevention PSAs intervention PSAs or a control PSA. Participants provided data prior to viewing their allocated PSA and again four weeks after viewing it. Our primary outcome was a change in participants' attitudes toward the preventability of suicide, and analysis was conducted on an intention-to-treat basis. A total of 349 participants were randomized to one of four groups and 266 participants provided pre and post viewing data. Across the four groups, no significant change was observed in our primary outcome: attitudes toward the preventability of suicide ( Our study has highlighted that attitudes and help-seeking intentions in young adults are difficult to change with low intensity one-off exposure to PSA messages. Further research is required to understand the factors that contribute to safe and effective messaging about suicide prevention.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Youth suicide is a major public health concern worldwide. Public service announcements (PSAs) may have a role in suicide prevention, as part of broader suicide prevention campaigns.
METHOD
We conducted a double-blind four arm randomized controlled trial in which 18 to 24 year olds were allocated to watch one of three suicide prevention PSAs intervention PSAs or a control PSA. Participants provided data prior to viewing their allocated PSA and again four weeks after viewing it. Our primary outcome was a change in participants' attitudes toward the preventability of suicide, and analysis was conducted on an intention-to-treat basis.
RESULTS
A total of 349 participants were randomized to one of four groups and 266 participants provided pre and post viewing data. Across the four groups, no significant change was observed in our primary outcome: attitudes toward the preventability of suicide (
CONCLUSION
Our study has highlighted that attitudes and help-seeking intentions in young adults are difficult to change with low intensity one-off exposure to PSA messages. Further research is required to understand the factors that contribute to safe and effective messaging about suicide prevention.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32479160
doi: 10.1080/13811118.2020.1765929
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Randomized Controlled Trial
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM