Identifying Outpatient Social Determinants of Health Concerns Among Firearm Injury Survivors

Social determinants of health (SDOH) can impact recovery after traumatic injury, but specific social needs of firearm injury survivors have not been well documented.

The objective of this study was to document the resources provided to urban firearm injury survivors immediately after hospital discharge, highlighting their outpatient SDOH needs during recovery.

This was a retrospective cohort review of all firearm injury survivors seen at an outpatient clinic in a Midwestern, U.S. urban Level I trauma center, from November 2020 through October 2022. Patients were evaluated by the clinic's master's-level social worker, who conducted comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments and documented resources provided in routine care notes. The resources provided were abstracted from social work notes and grouped by SDOH domains.

Of the 255 patients evaluated, most were young (32.1 years), Black (80.4%), and male (81.6%); 43.1% sustained severe injuries (Injury Severity Score ≥ 16). Most patients received at least one resource (74.5%). Over half of patients received a financial resource (53.7%), with the most common being Crime Victim Compensation assistance (40.0%). Housing or rent support was also common (22.4%).

Financial and housing assistance are the most frequently needed resources among urban firearm injury survivors. The SDOH assessments by social workers, combined with strong partnerships to provide resources, can help trauma centers promote comprehensive recovery after firearm injury.