Developing a Dyadic Shared Decision Making Tool About Firearm Storage

NCT ID: NCT05451355

Last Updated: 2022-12-05

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 400 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2022-07-15
• Study Completion Date: 2022-09-02

Brief Summary

Given that firearm ownership is legal, common, and valued by many people in the U.S, safe storage is important to minimize the risk of unauthorized access, injury and death. Safe storage is particularly important in households with children, as they are at elevated risk of death by unintentional injury or suicide if a gun is accessible in the home. However, only 1/3 of firearm-owning parents with children in the home report consistently safe storage. Decisions about firearm storage are complex, with perceived costs and benefits of different storage options varying by individual factors (i.e., primary reasons for firearm ownership, types of firearms), family factors (i.e., age and mental and physical health of household members), and community factors (i.e., crime and norms). Storage decisions affect all household members, and prior research finds that firearm owners who discuss storage with other family members have the safest storage practices. However, a recent survey study of firearm-owning US parents of school-aged youth (n=749) found that in only 55% of parenting dyads are both parties highly involved in the decision about how firearms are stored. In this sample, investigators observed that safe storage was more likely when both members of a parenting dyad were highly involved in the storage decision (regardless of their gender and whether one or both own firearms). However, at present firearm storage interventions are directed at individuals rather than family systems. Given the prevalence of pediatric firearm injuries and the role of within-family processes in storage safety, there is a critical need to develop a feasible, self-directed, family-centered firearm safety intervention.

The objective of the proposed short-term project is to develop and obtain preliminary data about acceptability and feasibility of a prototype of a brief decision aid for parenting dyads. The conceptual framework for the decision aid is the Ottawa Decision Support Framework, and then investigators will adapt the Ottawa Person Decision Guide for Two to this issue and for self-facilitation outside of the clinical setting.

Detailed Description

Investigators will recruit up to 400 individuals who meet the following eligibility criteria: parent or guardian of at least one child under the age of 18, lives with at least one other adult (e.g., romantic partner, parent), lives in the United States, and has at least one firearm in the home. Participants will be recruited using a Qualtrics survey panel with demographic screening questions to generate a sample of eligible individuals.

Parents will access a link to a web-based survey platform (e.g., Qualtrics) and complete a series of survey questions, they will then be randomized to view either (1) the Family Safety Check-In (intervention) or (2) the AAP Firearm Storage web page (active control). All participants will then complete the same series of additional survey questions.

Conditions

Safety

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: PREVENTION
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Control Group

Participants receive a link to review an educational webpage (e.g., the AAP Firearm Storage Web Page)

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

AAP Firearm Storage Web Page

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Educational web page that discusses safe firearm storage practices.

Intervention Group

Participants receive the newly developed prototype (e.g., the Family Safety Check In)

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Family Safety Check-In

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Prototype decision aid to support within-family communication and decision making about firearm storage.

Interventions

Family Safety Check-In

Prototype decision aid to support within-family communication and decision making about firearm storage.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

AAP Firearm Storage Web Page

Educational web page that discusses safe firearm storage practices.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Parent or guardian of at least one child under the age of 18
• Lives with at least one other adult (e.g., romantic partner, parent)
• Lives in the United States
• Has at least one firearm in the home

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Seattle Children's Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Emily Kroshus

Research Associate Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Seattle Children's Research Institute

Seattle, Washington, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

STUDY00002944

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id