Firearm Storage Device Distribution to Families of Children With Mental Health Complaints

Seattle Children's Hospital255 enrolled

Overview

This study aims to describe the baseline rate of safe firearm storage device use in the homes of pediatric patients with mental health complaints treated in the Emergency Department (ED) and/or inpatient psychiatric unit of an urban tertiary pediatric hospital. Follow-up data will be collected to ascertain any change(s) in the rate of safe firearm storage device use after patients have been treated for a mental health complaint, which includes standardized recommendations for safe firearm storage practices. This study also involves an intervention to distribute safe firearm storage devices to families of pediatric mental health patients during their hospital visit, and assesses whether safe storage device distribution impacts reported future rate of firearm safety device use.

Firearm injuries are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality for children and teens. Access to firearms has been associated with suicide completion in the pediatric mental health population. Current practice in our pediatric Emergency Department (ED) and inpatient psychiatric unit is to screen all mental health patients for firearm access, and to recommend safe firearm storage practices. However, there is no data on the baseline rate of safe firearm storage device use in the homes of these patients, or on the effectiveness of providing these recommendations during hospitalization. This study has two phases, a baseline and an intervention. During the baseline phase, the research team will study whether there is an improvement in safe firearm storage device use in the homes of participants 7 or 30 days after safe storage practices are recommended during an ED or inpatient psychiatric visit. During the intervention phase, in addition to the standard recommendation of safe storage practices during the visit, the research team will distribute firearm safety storage devices such as a lock box, trigger lock, and and/or cable lock to families at the time of study enrollment. The investigators will study whether there is an improvement in safe firearm storage device use in the homes of intervention participants after 7 or 30 days compared to the usual care group.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Interventions

Free safe firearm storage device distributionBEHAVIORAL

Participants in the experimental phase of the study receive a safe firearm storage device at the time of study enrollment. They are randomized to receive a free device. Safe firearm storage devices include a California Department of Justice-approved lock box, trigger lock and/or cable lock.

Low cost safe firearm storage deviceBEHAVIORAL

Participants in the experimental phase of the study receive a safe firearm storage device at the time of study enrollment. They are randomized to receive a low cost ($5) device. Safe firearm storage devices include a California Department of Justice-approved lock box, trigger lock and/or cable lock.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMax age: 17 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 0-17 years, inclusive * Evaluated in the Emergency Department or inpatient psychiatric unit for a primary mental health complaint * Presence of a firearm in household where patient resides at least one day per week and/or will reside for at least one of the 7 days following enrollment * Accompanied by a parent or legal guardian * Parent or legal guardian is proficient in English * Parent or legal guardian is 18 years of age or older Exclusion Criteria: * Patient is 18 years of age or older * Patient is not evaluated for a mental health complaint in the Emergency Department or inpatient psychiatric unit * The adult participant has previously enrolled in the intervention phase of the study. * Patient is accompanied by a parent/legal guardian who has previously enrolled a different child in the intervention phase of the study * Patient is not accompanied by a parent or legal guardian during their PMBU or ED visit * Parent or legal guardian accompanying patient does not reside and/or does not anticipate residing in the household with patient for any of the 7 days following enrollment and no other adult household member is present to consent Note: Adult household members may only consent to participate in this study if a parent or legal guardian is also present to provide informed consent. For adult household members only: Inclusion Criteria: * 18 years of age or older * Lives in same household as patient at least one day per week * Has primary or shared responsibility for at least one firearm stored in the household * Proficient in English Exclusion Criteria: * Resides in household with patient less than one day per week, and/or does not anticipate residing in the household with patient for any of the 7 days following enrollment * Is not responsible for firearm storage in the home

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in the number of unsecured firearms stored in the household.

Comparison in the participant-reported number of unsecured firearms stored in their household at the time of enrollment, 7 days post-enrollment, and 30 days post-enrollment.

Time frame: 7 and 30 days post-enrollment

Secondary Outcomes

Proportion of participants with all firearms safely secured

Description of participants with all firearms secured using "triple safe" storage methods: firearms stored in a locked location, unloaded, and with ammunition stored in a separate, locked location

Time frame: Baseline, 7 days and 30 days post-enrollment

Proportion of participants who report storing fewer firearms in their homes at follow-up

Description of participants who report storing fewer firearms in their homes during follow-up surveys compared to reported number of firearms at baseline

Time frame: Baseline, 7 days and 30 days post-enrollment

Proportion of participants who report using a firearm safety storage device at follow-up

Description of participants who report using any safe firearm storage device at follow-up, change in any safe firearm storage device use from baseline

Time frame: Baseline, 7 days and 30 days post-enrollment

Firearm Storage Device Distribution to Families of Children With Mental Health Complaints

Overview

Conditions

Interventions

Eligibility

Locations (1)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes