Publication

Firearm-related behaviors following firearm injury: Changes in ownership, carrying and storage.

Publication Year: 2019

Authors: Lyons, Vivian H., Rivara, Frederick P., Yan, Alice Ning-Xue, Currier, Cara, Ballsmith, Erin, Haggerty, Kevin P., Whiteside, Lauren, Floyd, Anthony S., Hajat, Anjum, Rowhani-Rahbar, Ali

Publication Title: Journal of Behavioral Medicine

Volume: 42

Issue Number: 4

Page(s): 658-673

Link to Publication: View publication

Abstract: Individuals who sustain nonfatal gunshot wound (GSW) injuries are at substantially increased risk of subsequent firearm injury. There is a dearth of literature examining what, if any, firearm-related behavior changes occur among adults as a result of GSW injuries. Using survey data on firearm-related behaviors from an ongoing randomized controlled trial, we sought to describe changes in reported firearm-related behaviors among GSW patients following their injury. Our results suggest that patients with a GSW, especially firearm owners, may change their firearm-related behaviors following injury, some by increasing firearm-related safety and others by increasing frequency of behaviors that may place them at increased risk of subsequent injury. This study highlights the need for further examination of firearm-related behavior change among GSW patients and development of interventions to promote firearm safety among this population.