Gender and Age Bias in the Evaluation of Suicide Attempt Behavior in an Emergency Department

We aimed to investigate whether demographic characteristics such as age and gender of attempted suicide patients are associated with bias in the post-Emergency Department (ED) discharge program manager’s evaluation of genuineness of the patients’ suicide attempts. In the ED-Based Post-Suicide Attempt Case Management (ED-PSACM) program, the manager interviews patients with suicide attempts and makes subjective judgement on the patient’s genuineness of the suicide attempt. After patients’ discharge, the manager provides follow-up post-discharge care management services. Compared to ≥ 65 years old male patients as a reference group, 18–39 years old female patients showed significantly lower judgment for a genuine suicide attempt (OR = 0.34; 95% CI 0.12–0.81). Other groups did not show significant differences from the reference group. Our study result suggests the possibility of the effects of bias on young females on the judgment of the suicide attempt genuineness. Medical staff and interventions managers in the ED should be concerned to avoid knowledge-mediated bias, especially by gender and age.