Many mental health care clinicians don’t ask all of their patients whether they have access to firearms, an important step in firearm injury prevention, according to Rutgers Health researchers. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, examined a report by mental health care clinicians on firearm access screening, barriers to screening and providers’ confidence in implementing firearm safety discussions in their clinical practice.
About 42% of households in the United States have at least one firearm, which introduces risk of firearm injury and death (e.g., accidental shooting, suicide, homicide) for all in the home. Screening for firearm access is recommended in health care settings to facilitate conversations to mitigate risks, however there is limited understanding of screening practices within mental health care, where clinicians have opportunities to reach at-risk firearm owners.
Using self-reported data from 311 mental health care clinicians, the researchers identified clinicians’ firearm screening practices and perceptions. They found most clinicians screen for firearm access when there is a risk of suicide or violence. To read the full story.