Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2026
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
A Randomized Controlled Trial for Parents of Hospitalized Children: Keeping Kids Safe From Guns
Alyssa H Silver1, Gabriella Azzarone2, Nancy Dodson2
1Departments of Pediatrics and alysilve@montefiore.org.
Insights
The BeSMART intervention improved firearm safety knowledge in parents of hospitalized children. While all groups increased asking about guns, BeSMART uniquely boosted immediate likelihood of asking about guns in others' homes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Injury Prevention
- Public Health Interventions
Background:
- Hospitalized children are vulnerable, necessitating safety education for parents.
- Parental knowledge and behaviors are crucial for preventing firearm injuries in children.
- Existing firearm safety education methods require evaluation for effectiveness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the BeSMART educational intervention's impact on parental firearm safety behaviors, beliefs, and knowledge.
- To compare BeSMART (with and without physician review) against a control intervention (tobacco safety education).
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial with 225 participants (parents of hospitalized children <20 years).
- Three arms: BeSMART video/handout, BeSMART + physician review, and control (tobacco safety).
- Assessed parent-reported frequency of asking about guns (primary) and likelihood of asking, beliefs, and knowledge (secondary) pre- and post-intervention.
Main Results:
- All groups showed increased frequency of asking about guns 1 month post-intervention.
- BeSMART groups reported a higher likelihood of asking about guns in others' homes immediately post-intervention (P < .001).
- Firearm safety knowledge significantly increased in BeSMART groups; no significant differences in beliefs were found.
Conclusions:
- The BeSMART intervention effectively enhanced parental firearm safety knowledge in a hospital setting.
- BeSMART improved immediate post-intervention likelihood of discussing gun safety in other homes.
- Further research is needed to determine the long-term impact of the BeSMART intervention.
Objectives:
To assess an educational intervention (BeSMART) for parents of hospitalized children on behaviors, beliefs, and knowledge about firearm safety.
Methods:
A randomized controlled, 3-arm preintervention and postintervention study compared BeSMART video and handout interventions (with and without physician review) to tobacco smoke videos and handouts (control) on parental behaviors, beliefs, and knowledge. Eligibility criteria included parents and/or guardians residing with hospitalized children aged <20 years. The primary outcome was a change in parent-reported frequency of asking about guns in homes visited by their children preintervention to 1 month after intervention. Secondary outcomes were parent-reported likelihood of asking about guns in others' homes immediately postintervention and change in firearm safety beliefs and/or knowledge in the intervention versus control group, analyzed with analysis of variance. McNemar's and paired t tests compared changes within groups, and generalized estimating equations compared change between groups for the primary outcome.
Results:
A total of 225 participants enrolled. Both intervention and control groups revealed significant increase mean in parent-reported Likert score of frequency of asking about guns within groups preintervention to 1 month after intervention (BeSMART: 1.5 to 2.3, P = .04; BeSMART + physician review: 1.4 to 1.9, P = .03; control: 1.4 to 2.3, P = .01). Change between groups was not significant (P = .81). Immediately postintervention, intervention groups reported higher likelihood of asking about guns (P < .001). Study groups revealed no significant differences in beliefs. Firearm safety knowledge increased significantly in the intervention groups.
Conclusions:
BeSMART firearm injury prevention intervention in a hospital setting increased parental knowledge regarding firearm safety. Immediately postintervention, BeSMART groups reported higher likelihood of asking about guns in others' homes compared with controls. At 1 month after intervention, all groups reported increased frequency asking about guns. Future investigations are needed to understand the duration of intervention impact.
More Related Videos
13:08Measurement of Fronto-limbic Activity Using an Emotional Oddball Task in Children with Familial High Risk for Schizophrenia
Published on: December 2, 2015
04:53A Clinical Trial Assessing the Safety, Efficacy, and Delivery of Olive-Oil-Based Three-Chamber Bags for Parenteral Nutrition
Published on: September 20, 2019
Related Concept Videos
02:01Group Design
01:11Blinding