Objective:
This study will fill a significant gap in understanding why child and child related healthcare providers initiate conversations about secure storage and/or Extreme Risk Protective Orders (ERPOs). Given that firearm injury risk can vary across the life course, we seek to discover ways to involve healthcare providers (hereafter “provider(s)”) across a number of primary care physician (PCP) settings, which will include obstetricians and gynecologists (Ob/Gyn, who provide treatment in the prenatal phase to both fetus and mother as well as maternal postnatal care), pediatricians (who provide treatment throughout childhood), and general practitioners (who provide treatment to both children’s caregivers and directly to children as they mature).
Despite physicians’ unique role and the impact of firearms on health outcomes –such as trauma, injury, and death – physician-initiated firearm safety counseling rates are low. There is a paucity of rigorous study around the facilitators and barriers of these lifesaving conversations. Given the potential impact of secure storage conversations, they should be established as routine care. However, before that can occur, we must understand (1) why they are or are not currently integrated into the office visit schedule, and (2) what changes could be made to make secure storage conversations part of a children’s healthcare provider’s standard anticipatory guidance protocols.
Funded By:
New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center
Project Status:
In progress
Principal Investigator (PI):
Kerri M. Raissian, PhD
Co-Principal Investigator (PI):
Jennifer Dineen, PhD
Amount Awarded:
$50,000