Secure Firearm Storage Program for Child Safety

Overseen By Rinad S Beidas, PhD

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Northwestern University

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

666 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications. It seems unlikely, as the study focuses on firearm storage and not on medical treatments.

What data supports the effectiveness of the Secure Firearm Storage Program for Child Safety treatment?

Research shows that safe firearm storage practices, which are part of the program, are linked to a lower risk of childhood injuries and deaths from firearms. Studies also indicate that providing firearm storage devices and training can improve safe storage practices in homes with children. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the Secure Firearm Storage Program for Child Safety safe for participants?

The research on firearm safety programs, including counseling and educational interventions, shows they are generally safe for participants. These programs focus on promoting safe storage practices to prevent harm, particularly in households with children. ^{1 2 5 6 7}

How is the Secure Firearm Storage Program for Child Safety treatment different from other treatments?

The Secure Firearm Storage Program for Child Safety is unique because it focuses on distributing gun safes and trigger locks to households to prevent unauthorized access by children, rather than relying solely on education or counseling. This approach directly provides the tools needed for safe storage, which is a practical and tangible method to enhance child safety. ^{1 5 8 9 10}

What is the purpose of this trial?

This randomized controlled trial will take place in up to 15 community health centers across the state of Illinois. Researchers will be studying S.A.F.E. Firearm, a program that aims to increase secure storage of firearms in homes with children. Specifically, S.A.F.E. Firearm includes a brief conversation between pediatric clinicians and parents about secure firearm storage and an offer of a free cable firearm lock within the well-child visit. Researchers will also study a package of strategies to help pediatric clinics incorporate this new practice. The strategies include training for clinic personnel and facilitation, or tailored problem-solving support. The questions the study aims to answer are: * How effective is the package of strategies at helping pediatric clinics adopt this new practice? * How effective is the S.A.F.E. Firearm program at changing parents' and guardians' firearm storage behavior? Some parents and guardians will be invited to complete a brief survey after their visit about their experiences receiving S.A.F.E. Firearm. Some community health center personnel will also be invited to complete an interview about their experiences with S.A.F.E. Firearm and the package of strategies.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for community health centers in Illinois. It's focused on pediatric clinics within these centers and involves parents and guardians of children who visit for well-child appointments. The aim is to see if training clinicians to talk about secure firearm storage and offering a free cable lock can change how firearms are stored at home.

Inclusion Criteria

I am a parent of a child (0-17) with an upcoming well-visit in Illinois.

I work in healthcare in Illinois and am over 18.

Exclusion Criteria

Not applicable.

Timeline

Baseline

During the baseline data collection phase, no individuals will be exposed to S.A.F.E. Firearm. No training or facilitation will be received.

At least 6 months

Implementation

Implementation approaches (training, facilitation) and the S.A.F.E. Firearm program are enacted. Pediatric clinicians discuss secure firearm storage with parents and offer a free cable firearm lock.

12 months

Sustainment

Outcomes are assessed during the sustainment window. Clinics continue to deliver S.A.F.E. Firearm without additional training or facilitation.

Remainder of the study period

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Implementation package

Trial Overview The study tests the S.A.F.E. Firearm program, which includes a conversation about gun safety between clinicians and parents during child wellness visits, plus an offer of a free gun lock. Additionally, it evaluates whether extra support like staff training and problem-solving assistance helps clinics adopt this practice.

Participant Groups

Group I: Implementation phase (training and facilitation received, S.A.F.E. Firearm delivered) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Once a group of clinics crosses over from the baseline data collection phase, the implementation approaches (e.g., training, facilitation) and the S.A.F.E. Firearm program will be enacted. S.A.F.E. Firearm involves pediatric clinicians having a secure firearm storage discussion with a parent or guardian during their child's well-visit and offering them a free cable firearm lock. This implementation phase will last for 12 months.

Group II: Baseline/usual care Active Control 1 Intervention

During the baseline data collection phase, no individuals will be exposed to S.A.F.E. Firearm. No training or facilitation will be received. The length of the baseline data collection phase will differ between each "wedge" (i.e., group of clinics) depending on when the group is randomly assigned to cross over into the implementation phase. All sites will be in the baseline data collection phase for at least six months before having the interventions activated.

Group III: Sustainment (training and facilitation removed) Active Control 1 Intervention

Following the conclusion of the 12 months in which the implementation approaches (training and facilitation) are used at a clinic, outcomes will be assessed for the duration of the study during a "sustainment" window. No additional training or facilitation will be received during the sustainment period following the experimental period. However, clinics will still continue to deliver S.A.F.E. Firearm.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Northwestern University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,674

Recruited

989,000+

AllianceChicago

Collaborator

Trials

8

Recruited

18,700+

National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)

Collaborator

Trials

623

Recruited

10,400,000+

Illinois Primary Health Care Association

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

670+

University of Pennsylvania

Collaborator

Trials

2,118

Recruited

45,270,000+

Findings from Research

After participating in the Safer training program, pediatric clinicians reported a significant increase in their confidence (self-efficacy) in counseling about firearm safe storage, with scores improving from a median of 50 to 80 (P < .001).

The frequency of counseling on firearm safety also increased significantly, with clinicians reporting a median frequency of 50 sessions post-training compared to 10 sessions at baseline (P < .001), indicating the training's effectiveness in promoting safer firearm storage practices.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

One Step Closer to Safer: Counseling Outcomes from American Academy of Pediatrics Firearm Safe Storage Education Training. Gastineau, KAB., Bell, R., Hanes, A., et al.[2023]

Providing firearm storage devices along with training significantly improved safe storage practices among households of children with mental health complaints, with triple-safe storage (TSS) increasing from 32% to 56% in the intervention group after 7 days.

The study involved 256 participants and showed that those receiving the intervention had a much higher rate of adopting safe storage practices compared to those receiving usual care, highlighting the importance of integrating such safety measures into routine pediatric care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Impact of a Firearm Safety Device Distribution Intervention on Storage Practices After an Emergent Mental Health Visit. Uspal, NG., Strelitz, B., Cappetto, K., et al.[2021]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

One Step Closer to Safer: Counseling Outcomes from American Academy of Pediatrics Firearm Safe Storage Education Training. [2023]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Impact of a Firearm Safety Device Distribution Intervention on Storage Practices After an Emergent Mental Health Visit. [2021]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parental attitudes, beliefs, and practices related to firearm storage: a qualitative study. [2023]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Firearm Practices, Perceptions of Safety, and Opinions on Injury Prevention Strategies Among California Adults. [2022]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acceptability of Long Versus Short Firearm Safety Education Videos in the Emergency Department: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. [2023]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Multicenter Evaluation of a Firearm Safety Intervention in the Pediatric Outpatient Setting. [2020]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adapting Safety Check as a Universal Suicide Prevention Strategy in Pediatric Primary Care. [2022]

8. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Community based program to improve firearm storage practices in rural Alaska. [2022]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of a community-based handgun safe-storage campaign. [2018]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acceptability and Use of Evidence-Based Practices for Firearm Storage in Pediatric Primary Care. [2022]