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Purpose: This study investigated the association of the index method, defined as the method used in the first suicide attempt (SA), with the outcome of SAs among adolescents.Methods: The study analyzed medical records of 227 adolescents aged 10-18 years with clear SAs who visited the emergency department of Severance Hospital in Seoul, Korea from January 2007 through February 2021, focusing on the index methods and meaningful SAs defined as hospitalization, death or transfer to another hospital for psychiatric hospitalization. The association of the index method with the meaningful SAs was quantified using logistic regression.Results: Among the 227 adolescents, 80 underwent the meaningful SAs (35.2%). The adolescents with the meaningful SA chose drug intoxication, fall, and hanging as the index methods more frequently than those without the outcome, whereas they showed a reverse pattern in cutting (P < 0.001). The association of fall or cutting with the meaningful SAs remained significant after adjustment (fall: adjusted odds ratio, 6.93 [95% confidence interval, 1.70-28.26]; cutting: 0.39 [0.17-0.91]; compared with those undergoing drug intoxication). Multiple SAs were also associated with the meaningful SA (1.76 [1.04-3.13]). Conclusion: This study identifies the index method and multiple SAs as factors associated with the meaningful SA among adolescents in the emergency department. This finding may be helpful in interviewing adolescents with SAs.

Shortage of doctors in emergency departments (EDs) is a root issue in maintaining ED-based residency programs. This study describes the efficiency of emergency practice according to board certification; 3 board-certified physicians versus a pediatric resident. Of 342 children, we found no differences as per the board certification in the ED length of stay, acuity, and return visits with more frequent hospitalization by the board-certified physicians. This result suggests that with a proper residency program, both board-certified physicians and residents can make a decision on hospitalization.