ArticlePsycho-oncology2018
Factors contributing to cancer-related suicide: A study of root-cause analysis reports.
Article in Psycho-oncology, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
18 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 51 citations in OpenAlex.
- Common patient-reported sources of cancer-related distress in adults with cancer: A systematic review.Cancer medicine · 2024Pooled it
- Intrathecal Drug Delivery Systems for Cancer Pain: An Analysis of a Prospective, Multicenter Product Surveillance Registry.Anesthesia and analgesia · 2020Trial
- Methods of Suicide Used by People With Cancer: A Scoping Review.Psycho-oncology · 2026Article
- Joint Association of Depression and Sleep Duration With All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality: A Cross-Sectional Study With Inflammation Mediation Analysis.Health science reports · 2025Article
- Evaluation of psychological resilience and psychosocial care competencies of oncology nurses: a cross-sectional study.BMC nursing · 2025Article
- Exploratory Analysis of Nationwide Japanese Patient Safety Reports on Suicide and Suicide Attempts Among Inpatients With Cancer Using Large Language Models.Psycho-oncology · 2025Article
- The relationship between weight-adjusted-waist index and suicidal ideation: evidence from NHANES.Eating and weight disorders : EWD · 2024Article
- Oncology Providers' and Professionals' Experiences With Suicide Risk Screening Among Patients With Head and Neck Cancer: A Qualitative Study.JCO oncology practice · 2023Article
- Update on Prevalence of Pain in Patients with Cancer 2022: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis.Cancers · 2023Review
- Delirium due to hip fracture is associated with activated immune-inflammatory pathways and a reduction in negative immunoregulatory mechanisms.BMC psychiatry · 2022Article
- Article
- Choking injuries: Associated factors and error-producing conditions among acute hospital patients in Japan.PloS one · 2022Article
- Social relationships and relational pain in brain tumor patients and their partners.Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland) · 2022Review
- Suicide Risk Screening and Suicide Prevention in Patients With Cancer.JNCI cancer spectrum · 2021Observational
- Factors Associated with Depression in African American Patients Being Treated for Cancer Pain.Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management Nurses · 2020Article
- Distress and Factors Associated with Suicidal Ideation in Veterans Living with Cancer.Federal practitioner : for the health care professionals of the VA, DoD, and PHS · 2020Article
- Are quantity and content of psychiatric interventions associated with suicide? A case-control study of a Swedish sample.BMC psychiatry · 2020Article
- Teaching Root Cause Analysis Using Simulation: Curriculum and Outcomes.Journal of medical education and curricular developmentArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveVast efforts are directed toward curing or prolonging the life of patients with cancer. However, less attention is given to mental health aspects of cancer care, and there is elevated incidence of death by suicide in this population. Evaluating Root Cause Analyses (RCAs) of cancer-related suicides may further our understanding of system-level factors that may contribute to suicide in patients with cancer and highlight strategies to mitigate this risk.
methodsWe searched the Veterans Health Administration National Center for Patient Safety RCA database for cancer-related suicides between 2002 and 2017 to evaluate the context of the suicides and identify root causes and suggested actions. These variables were coded by consensus and evaluated using descriptive statistics.
resultsWe identified 64 RCA reports involving cancer-related suicide; 100% were males of older age. Many suicides occurred during treatment with palliative intent (44%, N = 28). Depression (59%, N = 38), medical comorbidities (59%, N = 38), and pain (47%, N = 30) were common suicide risk factors identified. Most suicides occurred within 7 days of a medical visit (67%, N = 43), especially within the first 24 hours (41%, N = 26). Root causes included a need to improve recognition of triggers for assessment and interdisciplinary communication.
conclusionThis analysis uncovers opportunities to mitigate risk of death by suicide among patients with cancer. Suggested actions include use of comprehensive cancer centers and development of a distress checklist using information from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines. Further studies should assess additional factors that may increase the risk of other adverse mental health outcomes in this population.
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