An informed approach to the development of primary care pediatric firearm safety messages

Abstract

Background Firearm ownership is prevalent in the US and many children spend time in areas where firearms are not stored safely. The AAP recommends firearm safety counseling at pediatric well-visits. Methods We developed and tested six contextual messages to promote safe firearm storage based on: absence of harm, collective appeal to understanding child behavior, pediatrician’s authority, evidence-based, fear appeal, and general safety considerations. One hundred four parents who keep firearms at home were recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk Prime and viewed video messages and reported behavioral intentions and emotional reactions following each message. Results All six contextual messages were perceived as important and believable and increased parents’ intentions to follow safety advice provided, but also elicited negative emotions. The authority message elicited more negative emotions and resulted in lower intentions to follow safe storage advice. Conclusions Including firearm messages with other child safety advice merits further evaluation. Authority messages should be avoided.

Firearm safety counseling in pediatric primary care

“…8 Framing discussions around fi rearms in the context of safety has been shown to be the most well-received course of action. 10 Identifying teenagers with depression or anxiety and/or who are at risk for self-harm is important for appropriate patient and family intervention. Use of validated tools in primary care such as the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9): Modifi ed for Teens and General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) can help to identify youth at risk for depression and anxiety.…”

“…Pediatric PCPs may be hesitant to initiate firearm safety discussions with patients and their family members, as they may be unsure whether families will be open to the discussion 8. Framing discussions around firearms in the context of safety has been shown to be the most well-received course of action 10…”