264 - Target Safety: A Communication Guide for Firearm Secure Storage for Health Care Providers and Firearm Retailers

Publication Number: 2254.264

Sandra L. McKay, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Missouri City, TX, United States; Kritika Suri, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States; Zoabe Hafeez, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States; Kevin Rix, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Dallas, TX, United States

Background: Firearm owners report having at least one firearm unlocked 40% of the time, indicating a need for improved conversations on secure storage options both within healthcare and in the community. Temporary out of home storage (TOHS) is an underutilized resource for firearm owners. Currently fewer than 50% of pediatricians routinely counsel on secure storage, and little is done in the community space. Physicians often report fear of offending firearm owners when discussing secure storage, indicating a lack of cultural competence.

Objective: Develop a culturally competent mechanism to increase awareness about secure storage options, including TOHS, and to increase knowledge about suicide prevention

Design/Methods: A conversation guide (Fig1) for secure storage and TOHS was created in conjunction with a statewide coalition of key stakeholders and with input from multiple focus groups with firearm owners. To evaluate the effectiveness of the conversation guide, a pre/post survey was conducted with firearm owners at both a pediatric healthcare clinic in Houston and a large gun range in Houston. Descriptive statistics was conducted.

Results: Pre-implementation of the conversation guide, 162 firearm owners were recruited to take a survey at both the health care (n=63) and gun range sites (n=99). 83% (135/162) reported storing firearms locked. 33% (54/162) reported being aware of places that offer TOHS. 45% (73/162) reported that they would consider TOHS in the future. 81% (131/162) reported they would talk to a family member about TOHS and 75% (122/162) would talk to a friend about TOHS. 71% (115/162) were familiar with 988, and 84% (136/162) agreed that it would be helpful to provide information about suicide prevention information at a firearm retailer.
Post implementation at the health care site, 50 firearm owners were recruited to take a survey. Of this group, 48% (24/50) reported being aware of places that offer TOHS. 82% (41/50) reported that they would consider TOHS in the future. 98% (49/50) reported they would talk to a family member about TOHS and 94% (47/50) would talk to a friend about TOHS. 50% (25/50) reported that they planned to change their storage habits after receiving the information. See Fig2 for acceptability ratings.

Conclusion(s): The conversation guide was deemed acceptable, and information about suicide prevention and secure storage is acceptable in both health care and gun retailer spaces. There was increased knowledge about TOHS after implementation at the healthcare site, with a high percentage of firearm owners being willing to share information about TOHS with family members and friends.

Figure 1: Target Safety Conversation Guide
Conversation guide that is a trifold brochure utilized in both healthcare and the community to promote culturally competent conversations around secure storage, suicide prevention and TOHS.

Figure 2: Firearm Owner Post-Implementation Rating of Conversation Guide Acceptability Rating
Number of firearm owners out of 50 who rated the conversation guide either a 4 or 5 on a 5-Point Likert Scale on its helpfulness and trustworthiness in addressing secure storage, suicide prevention, temporary out of home storage, and if they would consider temporary out of home storage in the future. Overall the majority felt that the conversation guide was helpful and trustworthy.