español Evaluation of the application of clinical guidelines according to medical knowledge in acute suicidal crisis

Abstract

In developing countries, the gap between the existence of clinical guidelines and their effective application limits the provision of safe and adequate care in suicide crises. Given this reality, the question arises as to how the medical knowledge of healthcare personnel influences the application of clinical guidelines in acute suicide crisis situations. Therefore, the objective of this study is to relate the application of clinical guidelines in the care of acute suicidal crises to the medical knowledge of healthcare personnel at a Specialized Outpatient Care Center in the city of Quito, Ecuador. A non-experimental, correlational, cross-sectional study was conducted. The results showed a low level of knowledge about the guidelines, limited formal training (42.6%), irregular application of protocols (12.8% always; 21.3% never), and structural barriers. It was concluded that clinical preparedness depends more on technical mastery, continuing education, and supervision than on accumulated experience.

.