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A new clinical guide helps physicians identify risks and discuss firearms safety and injuries with patients. Clinicians often feel they have a role to play in preventing firearm injuries. However, few people discuss firearm risk and safety practices with patients during office visits.
Doctors and researchers at UC Davis' Violence Prevention Research Program (VPRP), Brown University, University of Colorado, and Stanford University are looking to change that. They have developed a clinical guide to help claimants become familiar with the risk of gun injury or death of a patient. It also helps them discuss firearm safety with patients and teaches them how to respond to emergency situations.
Their guide, published on June 4 in the Annals of Internal MedicineThe series "In the Clinic" is based on existing research and on the opinion of experts.
"Clinicians are uniquely positioned to identify at-risk patients and discuss safe firearms practices." Patients are extremely open to these conversations, especially when they occur directly in context. of the patient 's health or the health of someone else' s home, "said Rocco Pallin, first author and director of the VPRP 's What You Can Do initiative.
"This article presents the context and practical tools to help clinicians recognize risks and initiate these conversations when they believe that firearms are clinically relevant," she said.
The guide shares the findings of existing studies on preventing firearm harm and violence. It recommends strategies for screening, counseling and potential interventions when needed. It also provides a toolbox containing information for patients and clinicians about gun injuries and firearms safety.
Researchers believe that a better understanding of gun ownership and more evidence on the factors of increased risk of violence and injury can help physicians increase patient safety. . The authors suggest a conversational and collaborative approach to discussions on firearms safety.
Facts about gun violence, gun ownership and risk factors for clinicians:
Homicides: Highest among adolescents and young adults, especially African Americans. Higher up in the south. Higher in urban areas.
Suicides: Highest among white men of middle and older age. Higher in Montana, Idaho and Western states. Higher in rural areas.
US Weapon Owners: Most are men, whites, middle-aged or older people, residing in non-urban areas.
Reasons Americans possess guns: protection from other people (63%), hunting (40%) and other sporting activities (28%).
Firearm Safety: About 20% of homes with children have firearms stored in the least dangerous manner.
Mental Illness and Firearms: Contrary to popular belief, only 4% to 5% of individual violence is attributable to a diagnosis of mental illness.
Risk Factors: Patients with violent partners, alcohol and other substance abuse, history of violent behavior, dementia, cognitive impairment, poorly controlled mental illness, prior convictions for violent crimes.
Laws: It is legal for doctors to discuss with their patients the possession of a firearm. A survey of gun owners revealed that 70% of respondents were comfortable enough to talk about owning guns if their doctors asked them.
Garen Wintemute, director of the VPRP, stressed that "the prevention of gun violence is absolutely" in our hallway "for doctors and other health professionals.We hope this new guide and other documents What you can do will give them the knowledge and tools they need to help protect the health and safety of their patients and their communities. "
Source of the story:
Material provided by University of California – Davis Health. Note: Content can be changed for style and length.
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