Promotoing the sense of coherence in parasuicidal patients

Abstract

Parasuicide is a common occurrence in today’s society. WHO has made suicide prevention a prioritised area in Europe. Patients who have attempted suicide are at increased risk of further suicide attempts. Nurses have an obligation to support vulnerable populations in society. Researchers have found that this area of nursing care is challenging since parasuicidal patients generally are lacking hope. This literature review was aimed at illuminating nursing actions that could help parasuicidal patients endure their suffering and strengthen their sense of coherence in order to stay in treatment. The paper was based on 11 qualitative studies. Seven of the studies originated from Scandinavia, two originated from the United Kingdom and two from Taiwan. A deductive method was used. All articles were screened for nursing actions relating to Travelbee’s concept of suffering. The result was presented in terms of comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness, the components of Antonovsky’s sense of coherence concept. Comprehensibility increased when nurses were radiating and installing hope, being honest and open in dialogues, and acknowledged the parasuicidal patient as a responsible and autonomous human being. Manageability increased when nurses created a non-judgmental atmosphere and emphasised the seriousness in a suicide attempt. Nurses have to take basic nursing needs and narrative input into consideration when planning care together with parasuicidal patients. The essence of nursing actions that strengthen meaningfulness was to confirm and recognise the parasuicidal patient as a suffering and valuable human being. Nursing parasuicidal patients takes courage. Nursing actions were mostly aimed towards strengthening the parasuicidal patient’s sense of comprehensibility and manageability in order for the patient to stay in treatment to create feelings of meaningfulness.