Firearm injury prevention counseling: are We missing the mark?

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Public Health
• Firearm Safety

Background:

• Pediatricians play a crucial role in child safety, including advising on potential household risks.
• Firearm access in the home is a significant risk factor for unintentional injuries and deaths among children.
• Understanding parental gun ownership is essential for effective safety counseling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the accuracy of pediatricians' estimations of gun ownership among their patients' families.
• To compare pediatrician perceptions with parental self-reported gun ownership and storage practices.
• To inform pediatricians on best practices for firearm safety discussions.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving simultaneous self-administered surveys for pediatricians and parents across 23 practices in three US cities.
• Surveys assessed parental gun ownership, storage, willingness to disclose, and prior counseling.
• Pediatricians estimated the prevalence of gun ownership and likelihood for individual families.

Main Results:

• 28% of families reported owning at least one gun, with 39% of these guns unlocked or loaded.
• Pediatricians underestimated overall gun ownership prevalence and individual family likelihood.
• Physician estimates correctly identified gun ownership in only 65% of cases; 11% of parents recalled discussing firearm safety with their pediatrician.

Conclusions:

• Pediatricians significantly underestimate the prevalence of gun ownership in their patient population.
• Parents are willing to disclose gun ownership if directly asked by their pediatrician.
• Direct questioning about firearm ownership by pediatricians is recommended for all families to facilitate safety counseling.