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Hear from experts working to reduce firearm injury

Peer-Reviewed Article

Children and Firearms in the Home: A Southwestern Ohio Ambulatory Research Network (SOARnet) Study

Forbis, S.G., McAllister, T.R., Monk, S.M., et al.
The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice , 2007

This paper examining the opinions about gun ownership, gun safety education, and gun counseling attitudes in the Southwestern Ohio Ambulatory Research Network, found that most respondents believe that physicians should focus on safe gun storage information rather than counseling about the removal of guns from the home.

Peer-Reviewed Article

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

Shaughnessy, A.F., Cincotta , J.A., & Adelman, A.
The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice , 1999

This cross-sectional study from 1999 found that the majority of patients served by 11 family practices did not think their family physician had a responsibility to discuss firearm safety during an office visit.

Peer-Reviewed Article

Loaded Questions: Internet Commenters’ Opinions on Physician-patient Firearm Safety Conversations

Knoepke, C.E., Allen, A., Ranney, M.L., et al.
The Western Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2017

Understanding challenges of firearm safety counseling and help inform injury prevention efforts through anonymous online media comments about firearm safety counseling by clinicians.

Peer-Reviewed Article

Public Opinion Regarding whether Speaking with Patients about Firearms is Appropriate: Results of a National Survey

Betz, M.E., Azrael, D., Barber, C., et al.
Annals of Internal Medicine, 2016

This survey-based study found that the over half of firearm owners believed that health care provider discussions about firearms are appropriate in some contexts.

Peer-Reviewed Article

Concealed Ownership: Americans’ Perceived Comfort Sharing Gun Ownership Status with others

Wallace, L.N.
Sociological Spectrum, 2017

This article examining the perceptions of gun ownership in the United States found that older, white Americans and those with pro-gun attitudes are more likely to disclose their gun ownership status.

Peer-Reviewed Article

How Physicians can Reduce Suicide Without Changing Anyone’s Mental Health

Barber, C., Hemenway, D., & Miller, M.
The American Journal of Medicine, 2016

Given the high rate of death in those who attempt suicide with firearms, this article reminds healthcare providers to focus their counseling strategies on risk prevention and safety rather than questioning patients on whether or not to have firearms.

Peer-Reviewed Article

Physician Counseling on Firearm Safety: A New Kind of Cultural Competence

Betz, M.E., & Wintemute, G.J.
The Journal of the Medical Association , 2015

This article suggests that physicians should feel comfortable discussing firearm safety with their patients in a culturally competent manner, just as they routinely do with other public health issues.

Peer-Reviewed Article

Effectiveness of Interventions to Promote Safe Firearm Storage

Rowhani-Rahbar, A., Simonetti, J.A., & Rivara, F.P.
Epidemiologic Reviews, 2016

This systematic review found that firearm counseling along with safety device provision can effectively encourage individuals to store their firearms safely.

Peer-Reviewed Article

Improving Firearm Storage Habits: Impact of Brief Office Counseling by Family Physicians

Albright, T.L., & Burge, S.K.
The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice , 2003

This study found that brief counseling from family physicians can make a significant positive impact on firearm storage practices of their patients.

Peer-Reviewed Article

Effectiveness of Gun-safety Counseling and a Gun Lock Giveaway in a Hispanic Community

Carbone, P.S., Clemens, C.J., & Ball, T.M.
Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, 2005

This study examining a predominantly Hispanic pediatric clinic found that a brief gun-safety counseling session along with a gun lock giveaway resulted in improved safe gun storage behaviors.

Peer-Reviewed Article

Is Office-based Counseling about Media Use, Timeouts, and Firearm Storage Effective? Results from a Cluster-randomized, Controlled Trial

Barkin, S.L., Finch, S.A., Ip, E.H., et al.
Pediatrics, 2008

This randomized control trial found that a brief office-based violence prevention clinical intervention could increase safe firearm storage by families with children.

Peer-Reviewed Article

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

Public Laws, Library of Congress, 2010

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, in respect to firearms and public health, prohibits mandatory collection of information on lawful firearm ownership, or possession.

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