Family Practice Patients' Attitudes Toward Firearm Safety as a Preventive Medicine Issue: A HARNET Study

Allen F. Shaughnessy · J Cincotta · A. Adelman

33 citations0/0 files storedThe Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine

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Gun Ownership and Violence Research Primary Care and Health Outcomes Injury Epidemiology and Prevention

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Firearm-related deaths are expected to outnumber motor-vehicle-related deaths within the next 5 years. The goal of this project was to document gun ownership and safety habits among patients of family physicians and to determine patients' attitudes toward physician counseling about firearm safety. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of patients of 11 family practices affiliated with a research network. Patients (or parents of children) were asked to complete a 23-item questionnaire that asked about gun ownership, storage, sources of information about gun safety, and attitudes about gun safety, and the role of their physician. RESULTS: Of the 1359 questionnaires distributed, 1214 (89%) were returned. Gun ownership varied by location (urban, suburban, and rural) and ranged from 16% to 59%. Only 8% of respondents believed that their physician has a responsibility to discuss firearm safety. Most (91%) patients did not view their physician as a source of firearm safety information, and only 14% thought their physician was knowledgeable regarding gun safety. Most gun owners (71%) did not think they would follow their physicians' advice about gun storage. Most patients (5%) responded that gun safety should not be discussed during the office visit. CONCLUSION: With regard to firearm safety, family physicians lack credibility in the eyes of their patients. These patients do not appear to be receptive to information about firearm safety, and efforts to decrease firearm-related injury might be more effective if focused elsewhere.

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References

1995National estimates of nonfatal firearm-related injuries. Beyond the tip of the iceberg 1994Deaths Resulting From Firearm- and Motor-Vehicle-Related Injuries—United States, 1968-1991 1992Parents' Beliefs About Preventing Gun Injuries to Children 1995Firearm Injury Prevention Counseling by Pediatricians and Family Physicians 1994Children's Household Exposure to Guns: A Pediatric Practice-Based Survey 1995Parents' Attitudes Toward Firearm Injury Prevention Counseling in Urban Pediatric Clinics 1995A Population-Based Study of Severe Firearm Injury Among Children and Youth 1996Hospitalizations for Firearm-Related Injuries

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