Use of lethal means restriction counseling for suicide prevention in pediatric primary care

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for adolescents in the United States. Counseling patients and families on safe storage of firearms and medications is an effective method of suicide prevention. We sought to determine the self-reported frequency of lethal means restriction (LMR) counseling among primary care pediatric providers working with adolescents who are at risk for suicide as well as factors associated with consistently employing LMR counseling. An anonymous, self-report, electronic survey was conducted of primary care pediatricians in the Washington, DC metropolitan area of LMR counseling for suicide prevention. The survey was conducted over 10 weeks in autumn of 2017. Stepwise, multivariate logistic models were used to determine factors associated with firearm screening and LMR counseling for patients at risk for suicide. Response rate was 11% (n = 1546). Over a range of suicide risk scenarios, few respondents reported consistently screening for firearms (21.9%) or employing LMR counseling (19.4%). When adjusting for confounding, five or more years in practice was associated with higher odds of screening for firearms (aOR 4.6 [1.3-16]). Previous LMR training was strongly associated with consistent LMR counseling (aOR 8.3 [1.8-38.4]). While LMR counseling can reduce risk for completed suicide, most respondents do not consistently employ it. Those who have received training are more likely to counsel. Thus, LMR counseling should be a standard part of medical education for pediatricians.