An empirical approach to assessing training needs for emergency department management of intentional self-harm and related behaviors in the United States

Two domains were assessed: residents’ self-reported confidence and competence/accuracy of answering knowledge-based questions. Participants were first, second, and third post-graduate year (PGY1-3) emergency medicine residents of Geisinger Medical Center in a United States training program (PGY1 n = 17; PGY2/3 n = 13). Items 1-10 consisted of questions pertaining to demographics and training history; Items 11-14 consisted of residents’ self-reported confidence in four domains rated on a Likert-type scale 1-10 (1 = not at all confident to 10 = very confident); Item 15 was an open-ended question asking residents what they would like to learn more about to effectively address psychiatric issues. Items 16-19 consisted of open-ended questions regarding competence in mental health-related issues.