The Use of Public Messaging for the Promotion of Firearm Safety to Veterans

Canandaigua VA Medical Center474 enrolled

Overview

This pilot study seeks to determine if exposure to the firearm safety public service announcement (PSA) developed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is associated with changes in related beliefs and safe storage practices. Participants are randomly assigned to message exposure or control conditions. Data from this project will inform injury prevention outreach efforts targeted towards Veteran populations.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

474

Conditions

Injuries

Interventions

Exposure to firearm safety PSAOTHER

Exposed to firearm safety PSA

Exposure to health promotion PSAOTHER

Exposed to general health promotion PSA

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 89 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Veterans of all gender/sex, race/ethnicities * Living in United States * Fluent in English language * Capable of understanding the goals of the study * Possess computer/internet access Exclusion Criteria: * Not a U.S. Veteran living in the United States * Determined to be cognitively impaired * Currently institutionalized (e.g., hospitalized; incarcerated, etc.) * Do not possess computer/internet access

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Number of Participants With Self-reported Injury Prevention Belief

Number of participants with self-reported response to belief that "safe storage of household firearms is effective for reducing injury or death."

Time frame: baseline

Number of Participants With Self-reported Injury Prevention Belief

Number of participants with self-reported response to belief that "safe storage of household firearms is effective for reducing injury or death."

Time frame: 3 weeks post-baseline

Secondary Outcomes

Number of Participants Who Self-reported Firearm Storage Behavior at Baseline

Number of participants at baseline with self-reported safe household firearm storage (restricted to participants with self-reported firearm access)

Time frame: baseline

Number of Participants Who Self-reported Firearm Storage Behavior at Exit

Number of participants at exit with self-reported safe household firearm storage (restricted to participants with self-reported firearm access)

Time frame: 3 weeks post-baseline

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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