Patients' attitudes about the role of physicians in counseling about firearms.

This study investigated ambulatory clinic patients' perceptions regarding the physician's role in counseling about firearms in the United States. In all, 137 (94% response rate) patients completed a self-administered survey instrument during their office visit. Slightly more than half (56%) of the patients thought that physicians should talk to patients about guns in the home and 64% of the patients believed that doctors can affect public opinion about guns by counseling patients about gun-related dangers. One in five (21%) respondents reported that they, or a family member had been shot and 58% reported knowing someone personally who had been shot. Of the 23% who reported that someone in their home owned a gun, 52% indicated that the reason for owning a gun was for personal protection. Implications of the results for physician counseling are discussed.