Table 2 Attitudes towards suicide according to the Understanding Suicidal Patients (USP) scale

Scale (11 = positive to 55 = negative)

21.8 (20.9–22.6)

18.7 (18.1–19.2)

<0.001

Men

22.6 (20.5–24.7)

18.7 (17.9–19.5)

<0.001

Women

21.7 (20.7–21.6)

18.6 (17.9–19.3)

<0.001

Psychologists

22.7 (21.7–23.7)

18.4 (17.6–19.2)

<0.001

Physicians

20.5 (17.1–23.9)

18.9 (17.3–20.4)

0.261

Nurses

19.5 (17.6–21.4)

18.0 (16.7–19.3)

0.160

1. Patients who have attempted suicide are usually treated well at my workplace

1.7 (1.6–1.8)

1.4 (1.3–1.7)

<0.001

3. I am usually sympathetic and understanding toward a patient that has attempted suicide

1.9 (1.7–2.1)

1.5 (1.4–1.6)

<0.001

4. I do my best for a patient who has attempted suicide, to make them feel safe and cared

1.6 (1.5–1.8)

1.3 (1.2–1.4)

<0.001

5. It is usually difficult to meet a patient who has tried to take his/her life

2.3 (2.1–2.6)

3.0 (2.8–3.2)

<0.001

6. I do my best to speak with a patient who has attempted suicide about his/her personal problems

1.7 (1.5–1.8)

1.3 (1.2–1.4)

<0.001

9. Because patients who have attempted suicide have emotional problems, they need the best possible treatment

1.5 (1.4–1.7)

1.3 (1.2–1.4)

0.006