Clincosm LogoSign in Get a demo

The "Suicide Guard Rail": A Structural Intervention for Hospitals Avoid Suicides by Jumping From Heights Buildings

Sponsor
Kantonsspital Baden (Other)
Overall Status
Completed
CT.gov ID
NCT02889731
Collaborator
Police department at Baden (Other)
10
Enrollment
42
Duration (Months)

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

Background: Suicides by jumping from the high buildings of acute hospitals are dramatic events which are highly traumatizing to families, staff and fellow pts. In the 10 years from1995 to 2010 the investigators have counted 10 suicide cases despite extensive measures taken to predict and avoid them.

The investigators hypothesized that constructive measures at the windows that would render access more difficult could discourage spontaneous suicidal behaviour and would reduce the suicide rates.

Intervention: Starting in 6/2004, a 20 mm diameter metal guard-rail (which resists 250kg) was installed at each window of a 360 bed acute hospital at a height of 113cm, 18cm above the window parapet with the aim to visually, psychologically and physically discourage potential suicidal impulses.

Condition or Disease Intervention/Treatment Phase

    Study Design

    Study Type:
    Observational
    Actual Enrollment :
    10 participants
    Time Perspective:
    Prospective
    Study Start Date :
    Jun 1, 2004
    Actual Primary Completion Date :
    Dec 1, 2007
    Actual Study Completion Date :
    Dec 1, 2007

    Outcome Measures

    Primary Outcome Measures

    1. Number of Suicide Jumps over ten years [Between 1995 and 2010, measurement 180 months]

      Suicide jumps from the heights of acute hospitals are dramatic events which are highly traumatizing to families, staff, and fellow patients. From 1995 to 2004, 10 suicide jumps occurred at the investigators institution despite extensive measures taken to predict and avoid them. The investigators hypothesized that specific barriers rendering access to windows more difficult could discourage spontaneous suicidal behaviour and reduce the suicide rates. Starting in 6/2004, a 20 mm diameter metal guard-rail with a tension strength of 250kg/in2 was installed at each window of the investigators 360 bed acute hospital at a height of 113cm, 18cm above the window sill with the aim to psychologically and physically deter potential suicidal impulses.

    Eligibility Criteria

    Criteria

    Ages Eligible for Study:
    N/A and Older
    Sexes Eligible for Study:
    All
    Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
    No
    Inclusion Criteria:
    • person at risk for suicide
    Exclusion Criteria:
    • no

    Contacts and Locations

    Locations

    No locations specified.

    Sponsors and Collaborators

    • Kantonsspital Baden
    • Police department at Baden

    Investigators

    None specified.

    Study Documents (Full-Text)

    None provided.

    More Information

    Publications

    None provided.
    Responsible Party:
    Juerg H. Beer, Prof. Dr. med, Kantonsspital Baden
    ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
    NCT02889731
    Other Study ID Numbers:
    • IRB 11/06
    First Posted:
    Sep 7, 2016
    Last Update Posted:
    Sep 7, 2016
    Last Verified:
    Aug 1, 2016
    Keywords provided by Juerg H. Beer, Prof. Dr. med, Kantonsspital Baden
    Suicide
    Heights
    Suicide hot spots
    Bridges
    Additional relevant MeSH terms:
    Suicide

    Study Results

    No Results Posted as of Sep 7, 2016