A Gap in Psychiatry On-Call Training: Post-Ligature Assessment

Maja Donaldson, Ain Nizam
2022 BJPsych Open  
Aims1. To assess documented practice on post-ligature assessment following a teaching session and simulated induction session introducing a post-ligature assessment tool. 2. To implement the post-ligature assessment tool, for assessing patients who have tied a ligature, into trust guidance. 3. To support the incorporation of simulated induction teaching on post-ligature assessment into the standard induction timetable delivered to all new trainees in the trust, in order to complete the audit
more » ... le.MethodsAudit Cycle 1 - Patient data collection November 2020 - January 2021Action - Locality teaching presenting findings of audit and post-ligature assessment tool developed as part of audit. Concurrent trial of incorporation of post-ligature assessment tool into trust-wide simulation teaching for new trainees.Audit Cycle 2 - Patient data collection August - October 2021ResultsAudit Cycle 1:15 incidents2 involving anchor point/dropMedic informed in 4 incidents0 documented in ABCDE format0 NEWS monitoring3 follow-up plans documented3 complications reportedAudit Cycle 2:10 incidents0 involving anchor point/dropMedic informed in 4 incidents0 documented in ABCDE formatNEWS monitored in 6 incidents4 follow-up plans documented3 complications reportedOverall, slight improvement in documentation of NEWS monitoring and follow-up.ConclusionDocumentation continues to be highly variable. This may be because the teaching done was not trust-wide, simulation session involved only on new doctors in August, some incidents involved locum doctors, and small reach of assessment tool.We aim to introduce the post-ligature assessment tool as part of trust practice through liaison with the resus teaching team, as well as incorporating it permanently into trust-wide simulation induction teaching.
doi:10.1192/bjo.2022.434 fatcat:cihjatiqzjbjbbmzfi3qzxu4me