Preliminary evaluation of a parent training program to prevent gun play

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Behavioral Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Unattended firearms pose a significant risk to children.
• Behavioral skills training (BST) combined with in situ training has proven effective in teaching firearm safety.
• Previous research highlights the need for efficient and scalable training methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of using parents as trainers for BST in firearm safety.
• To assess the efficiency of parent-led training in imparting crucial safety skills to children.
• To determine if parents can successfully implement BST protocols for firearm safety education.

Main Methods:

• A multiple baseline across participants design was employed.
• Parents were trained to deliver behavioral skills training with in situ components to their children.
• Children's acquisition of firearm safety skills was systematically measured.

Main Results:

• Parent-implemented training was effective for 3 out of the 4 participating children.
• The study demonstrated the feasibility of parents delivering specialized safety training.
• Positive outcomes indicate potential for widespread adoption of parent-led training models.

Conclusions:

• Parents can be successfully trained to teach children essential firearm safety skills.
• Parent-led training offers a promising and efficient strategy to improve child firearm safety.
• Further research should explore broader implementation and long-term retention of these skills.