Pediatric Providers' Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, and Barriers to Firearms Safety Counseling.
作者信息
Bhalakia Avni M, DeMello Annalyn, Beckworth Kristen, Johnson Brittany, Naik-Mathuria Bindi
机构信息
From the Departments of Pediatrics and Pediatric Surgery, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, and the Center for Childhood Injury Prevention, Department of Pediatrics, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas.
出版信息
South Med J. 2021 Oct;114(10):636-639. doi: 10.14423/SMJ.0000000000001303.
OBJECTIVES
Firearms-related injuries and deaths are a leading cause of death in children and young adults ages 5 to 24 years. This study evaluated the counseling practices and barriers to providing safe firearms storage education by pediatricians and advance practice providers.
METHODS
An online survey was sent to 296 pediatric outpatient providers in Houston, Texas. Pediatric providers were asked about demographics, knowledge, attitudes, and current practices regarding firearms safety counseling. Descriptive and comparative analyses were performed.
RESULTS
Survey respondents (N = 76) were 86% women and 87% physicians. Most (86%) agree that they should discuss firearms safety with parents, whereas only 32% report routine counseling. The most frequent barrier to providing education was insufficient time (63%), followed by unfamiliarity with guns (26%).
CONCLUSIONS
Pediatric providers are interested in firearms safety counseling, but few incorporate it into their practice. Addressing barriers of time and comfort level around firearms are potential first steps to curbing a leading cause of injury death among children. Further research is needed to develop counseling methods that are time efficient and culturally competent for the pediatric office.
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