Evaluation of a Firearm Safe Storage Device Distribution Program at a Break the Cycle of Violence Summit.

This study assesses the feasibility and acceptability of a Firearm Safe Storage Device Distribution Program. The distribution took place at the Break the Cycle of Violence Summit hosted by the Johns Hopkins Medicine, the Break the Cycle Hospital Violence Intervention Program, and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Gun Violence Solutions. The findings will guide future efforts to distribute safe storage devices in clinical settings. Attendees of the Break the Cycle of Violence Summit could choose from three types of safe storage devices to provide to their patients within their practice. Those attendees who participated were asked to participate in an electronic survey to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the safe firearm storage device distribution at the Summit. 24 participants received safe storage devices at the Break the Cycle of Violence Summit. Of the 24 participants, 15 participated in our evaluation. 86% of participants distributed most of the devices by the time of the survey and 57% of participants stated that by having safe storage devices to distribute, they were more likely to provide safe gun storage counseling. All participants would like to see continued safe gun storage distribution programs in their community. The provision of free safe storage devices allowed for open conversations about firearms and safe storage with patients and clients. This study can be used as a model to guide future efforts in safe storage device distribution in a hospital or clinic-based setting and showed feasibility, effectiveness, and efficacy.

Association of pediatric firearm injury with neighborhood social deprivation in Philadelphia.

Background: Firearm-related injury is the leading cause of death among children and adolescents. There is a need to clarify the association of neighborhood environment with gun violence affecting children. We evaluated the relative contribution of specific social determinants to observed rates of firearm-related injury in children of different ages. Methods: This was a population-based study of firearm injury in children (age <18 years) that occurred in Philadelphia census tracts (2015-2021). The exposure was neighborhood Social Deprivation Index (SDI) quintile. The outcome was the rate of pediatric firearm injury due to interpersonal violence stratified by age, sex, race, and year. Hierarchical negative binomial regression measured the risk-adjusted association between SDI quintile and pediatric firearm injury rate. The relative contribution of specific components of the SDI to neighborhood risk of pediatric firearm injury was estimated. Effect modification and the role of specific social determinants were evaluated in younger (<15 years old) versus older children. Results: 927 children were injured due to gun violence during the study period. Firearm-injured children were predominantly male (87%), of black race (89%), with a median age of 16 (IQR 15-17). Nearly one-half of all pediatric shootings (47%) occurred in the quintile of highest SDI (Q5). Younger children represented a larger proportion of children shot in neighborhoods within the highest (Q5), compared with the lowest (Q1), SDI quintile (25% vs 5%; p<0.007). After risk adjustment, pediatric firearm-related injury was strongly associated with increasing SDI (Q5 vs Q1; aRR 14; 95% CI 6 to 32). Specific measures of social deprivation (poverty, incomplete schooling, single-parent homes, and rented housing) were associated with significantly greater increases in firearm injury risk for younger, compared with older, children. Component measures of the SDI explained 58% of observed differences between neighborhoods. Conclusions: Neighborhood measures of social deprivation are strongly associated with firearm-related injury in children. Younger children appear to be disproportionately affected by specific adverse social determinants compared with older children. Root cause evaluation is required to clarify the interaction with other factors such as the availability of firearms and interpersonal conflict that place children at risk in neighborhoods where gun violence is common. Level of evidence: Level III - Observational Study.

Outcomes in patients with gunshot wounds to the brain.

INTRODUCTION: Gunshot wounds to the brain (GSWB) confer high lethality and uncertain recovery. It is unclear which patients benefit from aggressive resuscitation, and furthermore whether patients with GSWB undergoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) have potential for survival or organ donation. Therefore, we sought to determine the rates of survival and organ donation, as well as identify factors associated with both outcomes in patients with GSWB undergoing CPR. METHODS: We performed a retrospective, multicenter study at 25 US trauma centers including dates between June 1, 2011 and December 31, 2017. Patients were included if they suffered isolated GSWB and required CPR at a referring hospital, in the field, or in the trauma resuscitation room. Patients were excluded for significant torso or extremity injuries, or if pregnant. Binomial regression models were used to determine predictors of survival/organ donation. RESULTS: 825 patients met study criteria; the majority were male (87.6%) with a mean age of 36.5 years. Most (67%) underwent CPR in the field and 2.1% (n=17) survived to discharge. Of the non-survivors, 17.5% (n=141) were considered eligible donors, with a donation rate of 58.9% (n=83) in this group. Regression models found several predictors of survival. Hormone replacement was predictive of both survival and organ donation. CONCLUSION: We found that GSWB requiring CPR during trauma resuscitation was associated with a 2.1% survival rate and overall organ donation rate of 10.3%. Several factors appear to be favorably associated with survival, although predictions are uncertain due to the low number of survivors in this patient population. Hormone replacement was predictive of both survival and organ donation. These results are a starting point for determining appropriate treatment algorithms for this devastating clinical condition. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II.

Firearm violence in the USA: a frank discussion on an American public health crisis-The Kansas City Firearm Violence Symposium.

Kansas City is a microcosm for USA. Although Kansas City shows a relatively diverse population, it is one that is segregated along the lines of race and income. This is an inequity that is common to all cities across the country. With this inequity comes unequal opportunity to survive and to thrive. Firearm violence is a core component of this societal inequity. In this article, we present the proceedings of the 2019 Kansas City Firearm Violence Symposium, where distinguished experts in trauma convened to share their experience, evidence and voices of gun violence-directly and indirectly. There were discussions on topics such as the human toll of gun violence, the role of structural violence in its perpetuation, the intersectional nature of race with both violence and medical care, and guidance on measures that could be taken to advocate for the reduction and elimination of gun violence. This was a symposium that started a country-wide conversation between academia, healthcare, survivors and the community on the most pressing public health crisis facing USA today.