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Citation |
Runyan CW, Brooks-Russell A, Betz ME. J. Public Health Manag. Pract. 2019; 25(1): 86-89. |
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Affiliation |
Departments of Community and Behavioral Health (Drs Runyan and Brooks-Russell) and Epidemiology (Dr Runyan), Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado; Program for Injury Prevention, Education and Research (PIPER), University of Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado (Drs Runyan, Brooks-Russell, and Betz); and Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado (Dr Betz). |
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Copyright |
(Copyright © 2019, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins) |
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DOI |
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PMID |
29889177 |
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Abstract |
Counseling about reducing access to lethal means of suicide, especially firearms, is a recommended practice in emergency departments (EDs) but does not occur routinely. Understanding influencers of decisions makers in health care (ED nurse leaders, mental health providers) and temporary firearm storage (law enforcement and gun retailers) could enhance practice. We surveyed these 4 groups in the 8-state region of the Mountain West. For ED nurse leaders (n = 190), hospital legal, risk management, and quality improvement representatives, and the ED nursing director were most often cited as influential, whereas mental health providers (n = 67) cited their own team. Law enforcement officials (n = 448) identified the overall community and leaders of mental health or general health organizations as influential. Firearm retailers (n = 95) cited local law enforcement and national firearm organizations. Advocacy from influential groups may encourage efforts to provide lethal means counseling and temporary off-site storage of firearms for suicide prevention. Language: en |