U.S. Clinicians Seldom Raise Issue of Firearm Safety

By Christine Judge

Edited by David G. Fairchild, MD, MPH, and Jaye Elizabeth Hefner, MD

Only 1 in 13 U.S. adults living in a home with firearms has ever been asked about firearm safety by a clinician, according to survey results published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Among some 4000 respondents to a national online survey, 8% responded yes to the question, "Has a physician or other health care practitioner ever spoken to you about firearm safety?" The rate was slightly higher among those living with children, 12% (vs. 5% among those in homes without children).

Most conversations about firearm safety took place in outpatient settings, and issues raised by clinicians included locking all firearms (48%), storing guns and ammunition separately (32%), and removing guns from the home (16%).

The authors conclude, "Our study suggests that efforts to date have not adequately promoted firearm safety discussions in clinical settings." They add, "Addressing clinician concerns that these discussions will negatively affect the physician–patient relationship ... may be a good place to start."