A study of the epidemiology and risk factors for attempted suicide and suicide among non-psychiatric inpatients in 48 general hospitals in Hubei province, China, 2015–2017

Abstract Objective This was a large-scale epidemiological survey of non-psychiatric inpatient attempted suicides/suicides in general hospitals in China, allowing a detailed quantitative analysis of the characteristics of inpatient attempted suicides/suicides. Methods The incidence, inpatient demographic and behavioral characteristics, and risk factors for attempted suicide/suicide were explored through a survey of non-psychiatric inpatients admitted to 48 general hospitals, between 2015 and 2017. A Vector Error Correction model was established to explore hospital variables as predictors of inpatient attempted suicide/suicide using the annual numbers of inpatient attempted suicides/suicides, undergraduate or above nurses per total number of nurses, and number of beds per nurse in a tertiary general hospital, between 1998 and 2017. Results The incidence of attempted suicide/suicide among inpatients in general hospitals was 3.26/100,000 admissions. 180 inpatient attempted suicides/suicides were reported, which were associated with particular inpatient demographic and behavioral characteristics and a specific temporal and spatial distribution. Incidence of attempted suicide/suicide was higher in inpatients aged ≥60 years, with junior high school or lower level of education, in secondary general hospitals, suffering from malignant tumors or chronic diseases. Number of beds/nurse had a significant impact on the incidence of inpatient attempted suicide/suicide. Conclusion We recommend that general hospital administrators establish a targeted approach to inpatient suicide prevention efforts in their hospitals.