Suicide Prevention Program at an Ambulatory NCI-Designated Cancer Center: A Program Evaluation

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to complete a program evaluation of the suicide prevention program implemented at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center Thoracic, Head, and Neck (THN) clinic and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center at Evergreen Health Center (EVH) clinic from November 1, 2022, through July 31, 2023. The program evaluation will help determine the effectiveness of the suicide prevention program based on its intended objectives and outcomes.Background: Suicide continues to be one of the leading causes of death in the United States, and patients with cancer are at a higher risk than the general population. The Fred Hutchison Cancer Center has noted an increase in suicide-related patient safety incidents. In response, a multidisciplinary team was formed to design and implement the suicide prevention program. The program was launched as a pilot in two different sites of care in November of 2022. Methods: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Framework for Program Evaluation was used to complete the evaluation. A retrospective descriptive design using quantitative methods was also used to evaluate the program and its outcomes based on its initial objectives and aims. Results: The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center successfully launched the suicide prevention program at the THN and EVH clinics. A total of 1186 patients were screened for suicide risk; 39 patients had low suicide risk, 9 had moderate suicide risk, and 3 had high suicide risk. 17 patients had documented timely interventions, and 10 were referred to social work. The program was successful in meeting its key objectives. Some metrics were met, and some continue to be in progress. Conclusion: The successful implementation and outcomes of the suicide prevention program at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center demonstrated that suicide screening can be an effective intervention for suicide prevention among cancer patients. The evaluation identified improvement areas that will be analyzed and addressed to enhance and implement the program across the organization.