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Supportive Care in Cancer
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer 12/2019

01-12-2019 | Suicide | Original Article

Oncology healthcare professionals’ perceptions, explanatory models, and moral views on suicidality

Authors: Leeat Granek, Ora Nakash, Samuel Ariad, Shahar Shapira, Merav Ben-David

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 12/2019

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Abstract

Purpose

To explore how oncologists, oncology nurses, and oncology social workers perceive suicidality (suicidal ideation, suicidal acts, and completed suicides) in patients with cancer that they are in contact with.

Methods

The grounded theory method of data collection and analysis was used. Sixty-one oncology healthcare professionals from two university-affiliated cancer centers in Israel were interviewed.

Results

The findings resulted in three main categories that included perceptions of suicidality, explanatory models of suicidality, and moral views on suicide. Healthcare professionals considered suicidality in their patients to be a cry for help, a sign of distress, or an attempt at attention seeking. Participants explained suicidality as stemming from a biological disease, from mental illness, as an aberration, or as an impulsive, irrational act. Moral views on suicidality were split among those who were mostly accepting of these patients’ actions versus those who rejected it outright. A third group of healthcare professionals expressed ambivalence about suicidality in their patients.

Conclusions

Healthcare professionals vary greatly in their perceptions on suicide. Some view the act as part of a patient’s choice and autonomy while others view it negatively. Healthcare providers should receive support in handling patient’s suicidality.
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Metadata
Title
Oncology healthcare professionals’ perceptions, explanatory models, and moral views on suicidality
Authors
Leeat Granek
Ora Nakash
Samuel Ariad
Shahar Shapira
Merav Ben-David
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords
Suicide
Suicide
Published in
Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 12/2019
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-019-04789-y

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