Protocol for the Houston Hospital-based violence intervention program

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Trauma Surgery
• Criminology

Background:

• Firearm violence is a critical public health issue in the U.S., causing significant injury and mortality.
• Hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIPs) offer a strategy to mitigate recurrent violence by providing post-discharge support.
• Effective implementation of HVIPs in trauma centers is crucial for reducing community violence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the design and implementation of the Houston Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program (Houston-HVIP).
• To evaluate the effectiveness of the Houston-HVIP through a randomized controlled trial.
• To assess the impact of intensive case management on reducing firearm violence exposure and related outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial at a Level 1 trauma center enrolling individuals aged 16-35 with gunshot wounds.
• Randomization to either intensive case management (treatment) or usual care (control).
• Assessment of primary outcomes (firearm violence exposure) and secondary outcomes (violent reinjury, PTSD, aggression) at multiple time points.

Main Results:

• The study protocol outlines the enrollment of 274 participants.
• Quantitative and qualitative data will be collected to evaluate program impact and participant experiences.
• The primary outcome is a composite measure of firearm violence exposure.

Conclusions:

• The Houston-HVIP protocol provides a framework for implementing and evaluating violence intervention programs in trauma centers.
• Findings will inform the design and effectiveness of HVIPs in reducing firearm violence.
• This research aims to contribute to reducing violence recidivism among high-risk populations.