Paired Video-Based Counseling and Firearm Safety Device Distribution in a Pediatric Emergency Department.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pediatric Medicine
• Injury Prevention

Background:

• Firearm-related injuries are a leading cause of death in children.
• Secure firearm storage is crucial for preventing unintentional injuries and deaths.
• Pediatric emergency departments (EDs) are potential settings for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the acceptability and impact of video-based firearm secure storage education for caregivers of pediatric ED patients.
• To assess changes in caregiver practices regarding firearm safety and asking about firearms in other homes.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, pre-post intervention study was conducted with caregivers in a pediatric ED.
• Participants received video education on firearm secure storage and were offered gun cable locks.
• Surveys assessed secure storage practices and inquiries about firearms before and after the intervention, with follow-ups at 2 weeks, 2 months, and 6 months.

Main Results:

• Of 307 participants, 43 (14.0%) reported firearm access, primarily handguns.
• Video education significantly increased the percentage of caregivers who asked or intended to ask about firearms in other homes (34.5% to 85.3%, p<0.01).
• At 2-week follow-up, 88.6% of caregivers with firearm access reported using secure storage devices, and 89.1% found the ED an appropriate setting for this discussion.

Conclusions:

• Video-based firearm secure storage education is acceptable and effective in pediatric ED settings.
• The intervention led to increased caregiver engagement in asking about firearm safety and improved self-reported safe storage practices.
• This pilot study demonstrates a promising approach to reducing pediatric firearm-related risks.