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Patients and Guns: Florida Physicians Are Not Asking.
Melanie G Hagen1, Babatunde Carew1, Marie Crandall1
1From the Department of Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, and the Department of Surgery, Division of Acute Care Surgery, University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville.
Southern Medical Journal
|November 5, 2019
Summary
Physicians acknowledge gun violence as a public health issue but rarely discuss firearm safety with at-risk patients. Barriers include lack of time, knowledge, and fear of patient reaction, despite awareness of legal changes.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Medical Education
- Gun Violence Prevention
Background:
- Gun violence deaths are rising in the U.S., yet physician counseling on safe gun storage is not standard practice.
- Previous legal restrictions in Florida (overturned in 2017) may still impact physician practices regarding firearm discussions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess University of Florida faculty physicians' knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning firearm safety discussions with patients.
- To identify barriers preventing routine counseling on gun safety among physicians.
Main Methods:
- A 15-question survey was emailed to faculty in general internal medicine, emergency medicine, and surgery in 2018.
- The survey assessed awareness of the 2017 legal decision, perceived effectiveness, comfort levels, and barriers to discussing firearms.
Main Results:
- 91% of surveyed physicians view gun violence as a public health issue, yet only 5% always discuss gun safety with at-risk patients.
- Key barriers identified include lack of time (36%), patient negative reactions (30%), lack of knowledge (20%), and administrative concerns (13%).
- 76% were aware of the 2017 court decision overturning the Florida physician gag law, but practice patterns suggest lingering hesitancy.
Conclusions:
- Physicians recognize the importance of gun safety discussions but fail to consistently counsel at-risk patients due to persistent barriers.
- Lack of knowledge and perceived negative patient reactions remain significant obstacles, even after legal changes.
- Increased availability of continuing medical education on firearms counseling is recommended to improve physician practice.