Effectiveness of Interventions to Promote Safe Firearm Storage

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Injury Prevention
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Safe firearm storage is linked to reduced firearm injury risk.
• The efficacy of interventions promoting safe storage practices requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review evidence on the effectiveness of safe firearm storage interventions.
• To identify factors influencing the success of these interventions.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of randomized and quasi-experimental controlled studies.
• Searched 9 electronic databases (inception-May 2015), adhering to PRISMA guidelines.
• Assessed study quality using the Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool.

Main Results:

• Seven studies (2000-2012) met inclusion criteria; interventions involved counseling with or without safety devices.
• Interventions providing safety devices significantly improved firearm storage (3/3 studies).
• Interventions without safety devices showed limited effect (1/4 studies).

Conclusions:

• Counseling combined with safety device provision appears effective in promoting safe firearm storage.
• Further research is needed to address methodological limitations and confirm findings.