Most Americans have strong feelings about gun control, whether in favor of more or less. Legislation has even been passed restricting physicians from discussing guns with patients. What is your opinion about healthcare professionals discussing safekeeping of guns in the home?
Gun ownership and regulation is a very emotional issue in the U.S. and there has been strong reaction to whether physicians and other healthcare providers should be involved in doing more to curb gun related injuries and deaths. I would like to hear some of your opinions regarding physician involvement, but first let's look at some of the gun statistics in the U.S.
More than 108,000 people are shot per year in murders, assaults, suicides, suicide attempts, unintentional shootings or by police intervention.
* More than 32,000 of them die.
* The U.S. has the most gun homicides of any developed nation. 29.7 per 100,000.
* Everyday 297 people are shot.
* 89 people die.
* 31 of them are murdered.
* 55 are suicides.
* 2 are killed unintentionally.
* 1 is killed by police.
* 1 is unknown intent.
* One in five deaths are people ages 15-29.
Over 17,000 American children and teens are injured or killed each year due to gun violence.
* 2,677 of those children die.
* Nearly 48 youth are shot per day including 7 fatalities.
* 5 are murdered and 2 are suicides.
1 in 3 homes with children have guns.
* 42% of parents with guns keep at least one unlocked.
* 25% of parents with guns keep at least loaded.
* 3 in 4 children know where firearms are kept in the home.
(Statistics; bradycampaign.org).
It has been suggested that clinicians could play a major role in reducing children's access to guns by asking if there is a gun in the home, and if so, counseling on firearm storage practices. One study showed that patients who received counseling on firearm storage were more likely to make a change in storage practice than patients who did not receive counseling. (64% vs 33%). (J Am Board Fam.Pract).
Pediatrician's offices and hospitals routinely give out infant and car seats, would it also be appropriate to distribute trigger locks and lockboxes? Firearm related injuries are a public health issue, so should there be public health initiatives regarding firearms such as there have been for reducing tobacco, toy and motor vehicle related deaths?
Why do we need to know that? I just want to know that it's locked up.
It's a yes or no answer.
Do you know where CO and smoke detectors should be placed?
Do you know how to tell if a helmet fits and how it should be worn?
Do you know appropriate age/weight and location for child safety seats?
Do you know about different types of smoking cessation products and can you explain why second hand smoke matters too?
Do you know what makes a good sunscreen and how it should be applied to prevent burns and skin cancer risk?
I hope the answers to all of those is yes.
If you think all you need to know about guns is "lock it up" then you will not be a very effective patient educator when it comes to gun safety because the patient will be more knowledgeable than you.
Do you know where CO and smoke detectors should be placed?
Do you know how to tell if a helmet fits and how it should be worn?
Do you know appropriate age/weight and location for child safety seats?
Do you know about different types of smoking cessation products and can you explain why second hand smoke matters too?
Do you know what makes a good sunscreen and how it should be applied to prevent burns and skin cancer risk?
I hope the answers to all of those is yes.
If you think all you need to know about guns is "lock it up" then you will not be a very effective patient educator when it comes to gun safety because the patient will be more knowledgeable than you.
Yes. I know all that.
And no, I don't think I need to know what type of gun is there.
My husband is a LEO, we have guns in the house, they are locked and unloaded.
Actually it's "bear arms"....or in the case of your pic, arm bears...
Seriously, I don't think that anyone here will dispute the idea that keeping firearms and ammunition safely secured is a good idea.
Likewise, I don't have a problem with health care workers offering something like a generic firearm safety pamphlet to all their patients.
However, asking about firearm ownership and recording that information in the health record crosses the line. With the exception of specific psych situations where it may be relevant, it's simply none of the provider's business.
With the implementation of EHR's and the rabid information sharing that goes on, many patients are more concerned with their privacy being violated, and are far less candid with what information they will share with their providers.
However, asking about firearm ownership and recording that information in the health record crosses the line. With the exception of specific psych situations where it may be relevant, it's simply none of the provider's business.
If guns are a potential hazard to the health of a child... and my job is to provide for the health of my patients... how is asking about potential hazards none of my business? I don't care if you have a gun or a pool or prescription meds or a car, I only care that whatever potential hazards exist in your home are handled responsibly. That's health promotion. That's literally our business, what we do all day long with patient education.
With the implementation of EHR's and the rabid information sharing that goes on, many patients are more concerned with their privacy being violated, and are far less candid with what information they will share with their providers.
My patient's misconception about what I do with data is not a reason not to ask about health hazards. We manage to get people to tell us about drug use - something that's actually illegal - I think we can figure out a way to get patients to answer a question like, "If you have any guns in the house, are they secured so your kids can't reach them?"
Do you know where CO and smoke detectors should be placed?
Do you know how to tell if a helmet fits and how it should be worn?
Do you know appropriate age/weight and location for child safety seats?
Do you know about different types of smoking cessation products and can you explain why second hand smoke matters too?
Do you know what makes a good sunscreen and how it should be applied to prevent burns and skin cancer risk?
I hope the answers to all of those is yes.
If you think all you need to know about guns is "lock it up" then you will not be a very effective patient educator when it comes to gun safety because the patient will be more knowledgeable than you.
Well this is helpful. What I get from this is "if you're not an expert, don't bother starting the conversation." Pretty absurd, don't you think?
And no, I don't think I need to know what type of gun is there.
My husband is a LEO, we have guns in the house, they are locked and unloaded.
That's all I need to know.
Geez, how careless! You should know all of the detz, right down to the make and model of the machines that secured the locks of your safes/cabinets. Anything less? YOU ARE A DANGER TO SOCIETY! A DANGER!!!!!!!
(I think it's funny pro-gun peeps are throwing shade in your direction, as you openly have stated several times on this site your home has firearms in it.)
Do you know where CO and smoke detectors should be placed?
Do you know how to tell if a helmet fits and how it should be worn?
Do you know appropriate age/weight and location for child safety seats?
Do you know about different types of smoking cessation products and can you explain why second hand smoke matters too?
Do you know what makes a good sunscreen and how it should be applied to prevent burns and skin cancer risk?
I hope the answers to all of those is yes.
If you think all you need to know about guns is "lock it up" then you will not be a very effective patient educator when it comes to gun safety because the patient will be more knowledgeable than you.
Pediatricians do actually know the answers to those questions, that's part of their job in protecting their patient.
"Lock it up" wouldn't be very useful if every gun owner already secured their guns from children, are you actually under the impression that this is the case?
If guns are a potential hazard to the health of a child... and my job is to provide for the health of my patients... how is asking about potential hazards none of my business? I don't care if you have a gun or a pool or prescription meds or a car, I only care that whatever potential hazards exist in your home are handled responsibly. That's health promotion. That's literally our business, what we do all day long with patient education.
My patient's misconception about what I do with data is not a reason not to ask about health hazards. We manage to get people to tell us about drug use - something that's actually illegal - I think we can figure out a way to get patients to answer a question like, "If you have any guns in the house, are they secured so your kids can't reach them?"
As I said way back on page one, you can ask, but the patient doesn't have to answer. A provider has no legal right to any information the patient doesn't choose to share.
So instead of asking about firearm ownership, simply make a statement to the effect of "Improperly secured firearms in the home have been shown to be a hazard to young children. We are providing this pamphlet on firearm safety to all our patients. If you have any questions please feel free to ask us."
You accomplish exactly the same goal without asking a question that is potentially confrontational or unnecessarily invading the patient's privacy.
However, my daughter's pediatrician's office has signs all over the place saying they ask about guns in the home, and I have never been asked. I do have a gun, and would answer honestly.
Pediatricians do actually know the answers to those questions, that's part of their job in protecting their patient.
Are you seriously saying that basic knowledge in preventative care education is "the doctor's job not our responsibility?" Because that is how I interpreted that!
I know the answer to all those questions I posed. I do not have kids nor do I work with peds patients or even ER or any position where I would need to educate on those points.
So why is it so demanding to ask nurses to have a basic understanding about what they are educating about?
"Lock it up" wouldn't be very useful if every gun owner already secured their guns from children, are you actually under the impression that this is the case?
"Quit smoking" wouldn't be very useful if every smoker already quit smoking already.
That is why limiting my education of smokers to "quit smoking its bad" is all I need to know.
OK. Snark Off.
Seriously.
Patients have concerns and objections.
If all you want is to check a box on an assessment/education/discharge note, then no knowledge is required besides telling every patient "buckle up, have a smoke detector, lock up your guns, and quit smoking! The hospital exit is over there, thanks, bye!"
If you actually want your words to mean something, then have knowledge so you can address patient concerns.
emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B
2,942 Posts
OK, 2nd amendment. Which regulated militia do you belong to?
Isn't this amendment the foundation for a state guard, with homeowners having their own weapons?
Amendment II
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.