Assessment of Educational Needs on Suicide Prevention in Residents of Psychiatry at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences: A Qualitative Study

“Need assessment” is considered as the process of evaluation of needs in a specific domain، which is fundamental for quality improvement of health education and research. As suicide is one the most important problems in public health، it would be expected that all psychiatric residents should have adequate knowledge and skills to play their different roles in the field. This study was designed to assess educational needs of psychiatric residents at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences with the aim of determining the priorities and needs about suicide. This qualitative phenomenological study was based on triangulation method. Sixteen psychiatric residents at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences were recruited using purposive sampling method. Data were gathered by interview and group debates and analyzed based on Colaizzi’s seven-step model. The findings of this study encoded 1015 codes، distributed in three main domains: “educational needs” (to recognize causes and risk factors، psychological education، and training practical skills against suicide)، “needs in process and facilities” and “human resources needs”. This study revealed multiple educational needs in the field of suicide. On the other hand، the current educational program could not fulfill the needs of psychiatric residents with regard to the contemporary realities of suicide. This finding mandates the revision of current educational programs.