Maanya Tarnal
Research Mentor(s): Laura Seewald
Mentor Department: Emergency Medicine
Authors: Maanya Tarnal, Lynn Massey, Alejandro Carrillo, Laura Seewald
Session: Session 4 (1:00pm – 1:50pm)
Presentation Type: Poster 89
Abstract
Background: Firearm injuries are the leading cause of death for children and teens in the U.S., with over 26,000 deaths from 2018 to 2021. For kids aged 1-11, most deaths are due to violence (65-75%), but 20-25% happen by accident, often when kids find and play with unsecured firearms (e.g., unlocked and/or loaded). Children as young as 3-years-old can handle firearms, making secure storage extremely important. The most secure storage means keeping firearms locked and unloaded, with ammunition stored separately. Improving secure firearm storage behaviors among parents/legal guardians of children ages 1-11 years old may reduce firearm injuries. Methods: This study tests two methods aimed at improving secure household firearm storage behaviors among parents/legal guardians of children ages 1-11 who present to a pediatric emergency department (ED) for any reason. The goal of this pilot trial is to examine the acceptability, feasibility, and fidelity of these two methods: one where a health coach utilizes counseling strategies aimed at improving secure household firearm storage (~30 minutes remotely), and one where caregivers receive counseling that is guided by a safety brochure (~5 minutes in the ED). The study will also examine changes in firearm storage behaviors and factors related to caregivers’ confidence and willingness to change. Planned enrollment is 80 parents/legal guardians of children ages 1-11 who report household firearm ownership. Participants also complete baseline, post-test, and two-month follow up surveys, as well as a time-line follow back interview to examine past-month firearm storage. Herein, we report baseline descriptive data from participants enrolled thus far. Results: Among the participants (N = 20) with an average age of 36.35 years (range: 24-53, SD = 6.69), no participants reported military service and 40% were receiving public assistance. The majority were non-Hispanic White (85%), female (90%), married (80%) and had a household income between $120,000 and $179,999 (35%). Forty percent reported they were the primary firearm owner, with 40% reporting that they were personally responsible for storage and 85% reporting their spouse was primarily responsible for firearm storage (results not mutually exclusive). The average number of firearms in a single household was 3.5 (range of 1-8, SD = 2.41). The majority also personally checked the safety of firearms stored in their household to make sure they were not accessible by their child in the past 6-months at least monthly (90%) and half reported they personally asked about the presence of firearms before allowing their child to visit or play in another home at least half of the time (50%). Some families reported storing their firearm unlocked (30%) and/or loaded (20%), with only 45% reporting storing all firearms in the most secure method (locked and unloaded with ammunition stored separately). Half thought owning a firearm was an important part of their life, 55% believed a firearm in the household made it a safer place, and 25% believed having a firearm in the home increased the risk for suicide. Firearm training was most commonly received from family members who own firearms (65%) and hunter safety courses (55%). Conclusions: Thus far in this pilot project, a range of firearm safety behaviors were reported. While just under half store their firearms in the most secure manner, there are still other safety measures that they can implement to reduce risk of household firearm injuries, demonstrating the need to develop tailored safety interventions aimed at reducing risks associated with firearm access, especially for children. These findings will help shape a larger future study to improve safety interventions aimed at reducing firearm-related deaths and injuries in children.
