Firearm Safety Training for Pediatric Trauma

(ACTFAST Trial)

Overseen By Julie Bromberg, MPH

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Johns Hopkins University

Disqualifiers: Prisoners, Suicide attempt, Acute conditions, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

The trial aims to improve firearm safety by training trauma center staff to counsel families on safe gun storage. It focuses on reducing gun injuries among children by educating parents and young patients about the importance of securely storing firearms. The trial will compare the effectiveness of this new training approach, called Adopting Comprehensive Training for FireArm Safety in Trauma centers, with standard care practices. Parents or guardians of children admitted to a participating trauma center who live with the child, as well as youth aged 11-17 fluent in English or Spanish, might be suitable for this trial. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the chance to contribute to innovative safety practices that could protect children nationwide.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that this training protocol is safe for pediatric trauma patients?

Research has shown that the ACTFAST program teaches firearm safety at pediatric trauma centers. This program checks if families have access to firearms and offers advice on safe storage. Firearm injury prevention programs like ACTFAST aim to increase safety knowledge and encourage safe storage habits among families and healthcare providers.

No specific safety concerns have been reported for the ACTFAST program, as it focuses on education and training rather than medications or medical procedures. Therefore, it is considered safe and well-received. Participants in similar programs demonstrated greater awareness and improved attitudes towards firearm safety without any negative effects. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Firearm Safety Training for Pediatric Trauma trial because it aims to implement a more comprehensive approach to gun safety in trauma centers. Unlike standard care, which may only occasionally include gun safety screening and counseling, the ACTFAST Intervention is designed to ensure that all trauma patients receive consistent firearm access screening, detailed counseling on safe storage practices, and referrals to community resources. This structured and proactive approach has the potential to significantly enhance safety measures and reduce firearm-related injuries, making it a promising advancement in trauma care.

What evidence suggests that the ACTFAST intervention is effective for improving firearm safety in pediatric trauma centers?

Research has shown that firearm safety training programs like ACTFAST, which participants in this trial may receive, can improve safe firearm storage practices. Studies suggest that thorough training for clinicians increases their knowledge and confidence in discussing firearm safety, leading to better advice for parents and young people on secure firearm storage. Evidence also indicates that these programs can reduce firearm-related injuries by promoting safer habits among families. Although more data is needed, these early findings support ACTFAST's potential to enhance firearm safety and prevent injuries in settings involving children. ^{1 2 3 4 6}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Katherine Hoops, MD, PhD

Principal Investigator

Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for English or Spanish-speaking individuals living with a pediatric trauma patient admitted to one of the participating level 1 trauma centers. It aims to educate these individuals on firearm safety.

Inclusion Criteria

I live with a child in trauma care and speak English or Spanish.

I am a youth aged 11-17, injured and admitted for trauma care, and can consent in English or Spanish with my parent's consent.

Exclusion Criteria

For parents/guardians of pediatric trauma patients: family members who do not live with the admitted pediatric trauma patient

For youth trauma patients: Youth who are prisoners or in police custody, Youth who are admitted due to suicide attempt, Youth with acute conditions that would preclude provision of informed consent (i.e., acute psychosis, altered mental status, cognitive impairment)

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Implementation

Implementation of the ACTFAST intervention, including firearm access screening, counseling on safe storage practices, and referral to community resources

3 years

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for the effectiveness of the intervention, including clinician and parent surveys on firearm safety knowledge and attitudes

3 years

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Adopting Comprehensive Training for FireArm Safety in Trauma centers

Trial Overview The study tests ACTFAST, a comprehensive training strategy for firearm injury prevention at pediatric trauma centers. It seeks to improve safe storage practices and reduce gun-related injuries and deaths among children.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: ACTFAST Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

During the implementation and maintenance periods, all trauma patients will receive study activities including firearm access screening, counseling on safe storage practices, and referral to safe storage and other community resources as appropriate.

Group II: Standard Care Active Control 1 Intervention

In the pre-implementation period, all trauma patients will receive standard routine care. Which may include some screening and counseling on gun safety.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Johns Hopkins University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,366

Recruited

15,160,000+

Rhode Island Hospital

Collaborator

Trials

275

Recruited

71,400+

Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota

Collaborator

Trials

67

Recruited

5,022,000+

University of Utah

Collaborator

Trials

1,169

Recruited

1,623,000+

Yale University

Collaborator

Trials

1,963

Recruited

3,046,000+

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Collaborator

Trials

902

Recruited

25,020,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The 5 A's of Firearm Safety Counseling significantly improved the comfort level and quality of counseling provided by clinical trainees on firearm injury prevention, with only 4% feeling uncomfortable after training compared to over 60% before.

The study involved 29 participants in a simulation-based randomized controlled trial, showing that specific training on the 5 A's led to a notable enhancement in the counseling quality compared to didactic education alone, indicating its potential as an effective tool for clinicians.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The 5 A's of firearm safety counseling: Validating a clinical counseling methodology for firearms in a simulation-based randomized controlled trial. Hoops, K., McCourt, A., Crifasi, CK.[2023]

The ShootSafe program aims to teach children aged 10-12 about firearms safety through interactive games and educational videos, focusing on knowledge, impulse control, and perceptions of firearms-related risks.

The effectiveness of ShootSafe will be evaluated in a randomized controlled trial with 162 participants, measuring outcomes such as firearms safety knowledge and simulated behavior, which could lead to improved safety practices among children.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Study protocol: developing and evaluating an interactive web platform to teach children hunting, shooting and firearms safety: a randomized controlled trial. Schwebel, DC., Long, DL., Gowey, M., et al.[2022]

Citations

1. clinicaltrial.be clinicaltrial.be/en/details/428388?per_page=100&only_recruiting=0&only_eligible=0&only_active=0

Adult Trauma Centers RE-AIM at Gun Safety - Clinical Tria... The goal of this interventional study is to evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of a comprehensive a universal firearm injury prevention program, ...

2. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06123611

Pediatric Trauma Centers RE-AIM at Gun Safety (ACTFAST) Intervention/Treatment, Behavioral : Adopting Comprehensive Training for FireArm Safety in Trauma centers. Firearm access screening, brief firearm safe ...

3. reporter.nih.gov reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10790742

RFA-CE-23-006, Pediatric Trauma Centers RE-AIM at Gun ... Our long-term goal is to demonstrate best practices for pediatric trauma center-based firearm injury prevention strategies that promote safe storage practices ...

4. publichealth.jhu.edu publichealth.jhu.edu/center-for-gun-violence-solutions/actfast

ACTFAST | Center for Gun Violence Solutions We're studying the implementation and effectiveness of ACTFAST, a comprehensive approach to firearm safety in US-based Pediatric and Adult Trauma Centers.

5. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-firearm-injury-2024-21d50

Firearm Safety Training for Pediatric Trauma (ACTFAST Trial) Trial Overview The study tests ACTFAST, a comprehensive training strategy for firearm injury prevention at pediatric trauma centers. It seeks to improve safe ...

6. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0891524525003104

The Impact of Firearm Safety Training on Pediatric ... This integrative review provides important information about the impact of firearm safety training programs on pediatric healthcare providers' ...