Postcards from the EDge project: randomised controlled trial of an intervention using postcards to reduce repetition of hospital treated deliberate self poisoning

Abstract

<h3>Abstract</h3> <b>Objective</b> To determine whether an intervention using postcards (postcards from the EDge project) reduces repetitions of hospital treated deliberate self poisoning. <b>Design</b> Randomised controlled trial. <b>Setting</b> Regional referral service for general hospital treated deliberate self poisoning in Newcastle, Australia. <b>Participants</b> 772 patients aged over 16 years with deliberate self poisoning. <b>Intervention</b> Non-obligatory intervention using eight postcards over 12 months along with standard treatment compared with standard treatment alone. <b>Main outcome measures</b> Proportion of patients with one or more repeat episodes of deliberate self poisoning and the number of repeat episodes for deliberate self poisoning per person in 12 months. <b>Results</b> The proportion of repeaters with deliberate self poisoning in the intervention group did not differ significantly from that in the control group (57/378, 15.1%, 95% confidence interval 11.5% to 18.7% <i>v</i> 68/394, 17.3%, 13.5% to 21.0%: difference between groups -2%, -7% to 3%). In unadjusted analysis the number of repetitions were significantly reduced (incidence risk ratio 0.55, 0.35 to 0.87). <b>Conclusion</b> A postcard intervention reduced repetitions of deliberate self poisoning, although it did not significantly reduce the proportion of individual repeaters.