Blog
Hear from experts working to reduce firearm injury
The American Medical Association code of medical ethics’ opinions on disclosing diagnoses to patients
Medical ethics on informed consent and withholding information from patients.
Do partners with children know about firearms in their home? Evidence of a gender gap and implications for practitioners
This paper looking at heterosexual couples' reporting of firearm ownership and storage found several gender gaps in the reporting of firearm ownership with regard to the number and type of firearms owned.
“Is there a gun in the home?” Assessing the Risks of Gun Ownership in Older Adults
Given that the highest rate of gun ownership in America in in those who are 65 and older, this paper focuses on the importance of addressing safe gun ownership in the elderly population.
Children and Firearms in the Home: A Southwestern Ohio Ambulatory Research Network (SOARnet) Study
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.
Family Practice Patients’ Attitudes Toward Firearm Safety as a Preventive Medicine Issue: A HARNET Study
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.
Loaded Questions: Internet Commenters’ Opinions on Physician-patient Firearm Safety Conversations
Understanding challenges of firearm safety counseling and help inform injury prevention efforts through anonymous online media comments about firearm safety counseling by clinicians.
Public Opinion Regarding whether Speaking with Patients about Firearms is Appropriate: Results of a National Survey
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.
Concealed Ownership: Americans’ Perceived Comfort Sharing Gun Ownership Status with others
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.
How Physicians can Reduce Suicide Without Changing Anyone’s Mental Health
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.
Physician Counseling on Firearm Safety: A New Kind of Cultural Competence
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.
Effectiveness of Interventions to Promote Safe Firearm Storage
This systematic review found that firearm counseling along with safety device provision can effectively encourage individuals to store their firearms safely.
Improving Firearm Storage Habits: Impact of Brief Office Counseling by Family Physicians
This study found that brief counseling from family physicians can make a significant positive impact on firearm storage practices of their patients.