Background: Routines and standards of care for parasuicide patients in general hospitals in Norway were reviewed in relation to international and national recommendations.
Material and methods: Telephone interviews were conducted with personnel at all Norwegian general hospitals with emergency units. 55 of a total of 58 hospitals participated (95%).
Results: Two thirds of the hospitals reported that most parasuicide patients were routinely psychiatrically evaluated and then referred to psychiatric or community aftercare. At almost half of the hospitals (46%) the staff had not received any specific training in clinical management of parasuicide patients during the last three years. Structured collaboration with external aftercare providers was non-existent in 43% of the hospitals. Hospitals with projects aimed at psychosocial follow up of parasuicide patients or hospitals with a team or a person responsible for the follow-up, had, however, routines more in accordance with the recommendations than hospitals without projects or teams.
Interpretation: The study shows great variations between Norwegian general hospitals in their routines and standards of care for psychosocial follow-up of parasuicide patients. Increasing the staff's competence, developing written routines and establishing mutually binding co-operation between the hospital and external caregivers are important areas for further development.