TY - JOUR

T1 - An investigation into the role of alcohol in self-harm in rural Sri Lanka: a protocol for a multimethod, qualitative study

AU - Sørensen, Jane Brandt

AU - Rheinländer, Thilde

AU - Sørensen, Birgitte Refslund

AU - Pearson, Melissa

AU - Agambodi, Thilini

AU - Siribaddana, Sisara

AU - Konradsen, Flemming

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - Introduction: Sri Lanka has one of the highest suicideand self-harm rates in the world and although alcoholhas been found to be a risk factor for self-harm in SriLanka, we know little about the connection betweenthe two. This paper comprises a protocol for aqualitative study investigating alcohol’s role in selfharmin rural Sri Lanka at three levels: the individual,community and policy level. The analysis will bringnew understanding of the link between alcohol andself-harm in Sri Lanka, drawing on structural, culturaland social concepts. It will equip researchers, healthsystems and policy makers with vital information fordeveloping strategies to address alcohol-relatedproblems as they relate to self-harm.Methods and analysis: To capture the complexity ofthe link between alcohol and self-harm in theAnuradhapura district in the North Central Province in SriLanka, qualitative methods will be utilised. Specifically,the data will consist of serial narrative life-story interviewswith up to 20 individuals who have non-fatally selfharmedand where alcohol directly or indirectly wasinvolved in the incidence as well as with their significantothers; observations in communities and families; sixfocus group discussions with community members; andkey-informant interviews with 15–25 stakeholders whohave a stake in alcohol distribution, marketing, policies,prevention and treatment as they relate to self-harm.Ethics and dissemination: The study has receivedethical approval from the Ethical Review Committee ofthe Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, RajarataUniversity of Sri Lanka. A sensitive data collectiontechnique will be used and ethical issues will beconsidered throughout the study.Results: The results will be disseminated in scientificpeer-reviewed articles in collaboration with Sri Lankanand other international research partners.

AB - Introduction: Sri Lanka has one of the highest suicideand self-harm rates in the world and although alcoholhas been found to be a risk factor for self-harm in SriLanka, we know little about the connection betweenthe two. This paper comprises a protocol for aqualitative study investigating alcohol’s role in selfharmin rural Sri Lanka at three levels: the individual,community and policy level. The analysis will bringnew understanding of the link between alcohol andself-harm in Sri Lanka, drawing on structural, culturaland social concepts. It will equip researchers, healthsystems and policy makers with vital information fordeveloping strategies to address alcohol-relatedproblems as they relate to self-harm.Methods and analysis: To capture the complexity ofthe link between alcohol and self-harm in theAnuradhapura district in the North Central Province in SriLanka, qualitative methods will be utilised. Specifically,the data will consist of serial narrative life-story interviewswith up to 20 individuals who have non-fatally selfharmedand where alcohol directly or indirectly wasinvolved in the incidence as well as with their significantothers; observations in communities and families; sixfocus group discussions with community members; andkey-informant interviews with 15–25 stakeholders whohave a stake in alcohol distribution, marketing, policies,prevention and treatment as they relate to self-harm.Ethics and dissemination: The study has receivedethical approval from the Ethical Review Committee ofthe Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, RajarataUniversity of Sri Lanka. A sensitive data collectiontechnique will be used and ethical issues will beconsidered throughout the study.Results: The results will be disseminated in scientificpeer-reviewed articles in collaboration with Sri Lankanand other international research partners.

KW - Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

KW - Selfharm

KW - Qualitative methods

U2 - 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-005860

DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-005860

M3 - Journal article

VL - 4

SP - 1

EP - 8

JO - BMJ Open

JF - BMJ Open

SN - 2044-6055

IS - 10

ER -