Exploratory qualitative study of firearm storage practices among surgeons in the USA: contexts and motivations.

A US survey of surgeons found that 32% store firearms unlocked and loaded. This study explored conditions and contexts impacting personal firearm storage methods among surgeons. We conducted semi-structured interviews with English-speaking fellows of the American College of Surgeons who treated patients injured by firearms and who owned or lived in homes with firearms. Participants were recruited through email and subsequent snowball sampling from April 2022 to August 2022. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was applied to transcripts to identify codes. A mixed deductive and inductive approach was used for data reduction and sorting. A total of 32 surgeons were interviewed; most were male and white. Dominant themes for firearm storage practices were based on (1) attitudes; (2) perceived norms; (3) personal agency; and (4) intention of firearm use. Personal agency often conflicted with attitudes and perceived norms for surgeons owning firearms for self-defence. Storage practices in this sample of firearm-owning surgeons were driven by intent for firearm use, coupled with attitudes, perceived norms and personal agency. Personal agency often conflicted with attitudes and perceived norms, especially for surgeons who owned their firearm for self-defence.

Waddle SD ，Thomas A ，Campbell BT ，Betz ME ，Johnson JK ，Royan R ，Ellyin A ，Jang A ，Crandall ML ，Stey AM ... -  《-》

Firearm Storage Practices of US Members of the American College of Surgeons.

As a part of its firearm injury prevention action plan, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) surveyed the entire US ACS membership regarding individual members' knowledge, experience, attitudes, degree of support for ACS Committee on Trauma (COT) firearm programs, and degree of support for a range of firearm injury prevention policies. This survey included questions regarding members' prevalence of firearm ownership, type of firearm(s) owned, type of firearm(s) in the home, personal reasons for firearm ownership, and methods of firearm/ammunition storage. An email invitation to participate in an anonymous, 23-item survey on firearms was sent to all US ACS members (n = 54,761) by a contracted survey research firm. Cross tabulation of questionnaire items by demographic characteristics and chi-square analyses were performed with statistical significance p < 0.05. The overall response rate was 20.4% (11,147/54,761). Forty-two percent of respondents keep firearms in their home (82% long guns, 82% handguns; 32% high-capacity magazine fed, semi-automatic rifles); 75% keep guns for self-defense/protection, 73% for target shooting; 39% store firearms unlocked, and 32% store guns unlocked and loaded. Results vary by practice/training location, practice type, military experience, sex, age, presence of children in the home, level of training, and race/ethnicity. A significant percentage of ACS members keep firearms in their home, and nearly one-third store firearms in an unlocked and loaded fashion. Safe storage is a basic tenet of responsible firearm ownership. These data present opportunities for engaging surgeons in efforts to improve safe firearm storage.

Campbell BT ，Kuhls DA ，Talley CL ，Bulger EM ，Stewart RM ... -  《-》

Views of voluntary, temporary out-of-home firearm storage among individuals living in a firearm-owning home: results from a qualitative study in two states.

Firearms account for the majority of suicide deaths in the USA. A recommended approach for suicide prevention is reducing access to firearms by temporarily removing them from the home. We sought to understand how firearm owners and those who reside with them view and might use voluntary, temporary out-of-home firearm storage. From July to November 2021, we interviewed English-speaking adults in Colorado and Washington who own firearms or reside with them, using semistructured interviews. We used a team-based mixed deductive and inductive approach to code transcripts and identify themes. Half of the 38 interviewees were men (53%) aged 35-54 years (40%); 92% identified as white. The average age that participants reported first having a firearm was 20.4 years; 16% reported never owning a firearm themselves, only living in homes with firearms. Qualitative findings fell into broad themes: (1) storage with family members/friends, (2) concerns/challenges with storing a firearm with a business/organization, (3) importance of trust (4) outreach methods for out-of-home storage programmes. Programmes for voluntary, temporary out-of-home firearm storage will not be impactful unless such storage is desired and used. Understanding views of potential storage users can help support development of acceptable and feasible programmes.

Barnard LM ，Knoepke CE ，McCarthy M ，Rowhani-Rahbar A ，Siry-Bove BJ ，Betz ME ... -  《-》

Assessment of Firearm Storage Practices in the US, 2022.

Anestis MD ，Moceri-Brooks J ，Johnson RL ，Bryan CJ ，Stanley IH ，Buck-Atkinson JT ，Baker JC ，Betz ME ... -  《JAMA Network Open》

Firearm Practices, Perceptions of Safety, and Opinions on Injury Prevention Strategies Among California Adults.

Pallin R ，Wintemute GJ ，Kravitz-Wirtz N 《JAMA Network Open》