Audit cycle on young people presenting with self-harm

Abstract

The first part of this audit looked at the demographics of young people presenting to Monklands Hospital and the quality of their assessment. Precipitating factors and past psychiatric history were enquired of in the majority of cases but there was a dearth of information regarding alcohol/drug use and family history. A checklist was devised with the aim of improving the quality of these assessments. The second part of the audit cycle completed one year later revealed considerable improvement in all categories. It is hoped that this will be maintained by displaying the checklist in the accident and emergency department and continuing to include teaching about this vulnerable population to all new medical and nursing staff.