Distribution and Randomization of Gun Safety Devices to Measure Uptake and Preferences

To prevent workplace violence, in November 2021, Penn Medicine implemented the Evolv weapons detection system in Pennsylvania Hospital (PAH) (1,2). For individuals who self-disclose they are carrying a weapon, or who are identified with weapon during screening, security guards offer the individual the option to leave with weapon, or to place it in a safe, at the hospital, for storage. Security guards return the weapon when the patient or visitor is ready to leave. Beginning in July 2022 team piloted a program in which security guards offer a cable lock and safety brochure when the gun owner returns to retrieve firearm at the conclusion of visit. To date, 47% of patients and visitors who stored a firearm with security have taken a cable lock when offered, resulting in over 400 firearm safety locks and brochures distributed to firearm owners. The Aims of this study are to: (1) Elucidate barriers and facilitators to implementing a hospital security screening firearm safety program through interviews with hospital security staff; (2) Design and pilot test a method for collecting data on storage device use among patients and visitors who accept firearm safety materials; (3) Conduct a pilot of distributing lockboxes and compare acceptance and usage rates to cable locks.

This protocol is for Aim 2 and 3 of the study. The rationale for this aim is that traditional research methods for collecting data on firearm safe storage have not been optimized for use in a pragmatic setting to ensure acceptability and confidentiality. Priority in firearm safety education and device distribution is to get the necessary information and supplies to those in need or desire such resources. To achieve this, any data collection must be done in a low profile, confidential, and non-threatening way. This is particularly important not only because discussions of firearm ownership can be politically charged, but also because some community members may not be legally licensed to own or carry a firearm, and some may even be legally prohibited from doing so. The legal status of gun ownership does not lessen the need for safety information and support-indeed, unlicensed firearm owners may have even fewer safety resources available for the. Priority is therefore to reach as many individuals as possible while subjecting participants to as little scrutiny as possible. Therefore, the aim is to design a data collection approach that will prioritize preserving participant confidentiality. Approach will be iterative pilot tests of data collection methods including embedding unique quick response (QR) codes linked to surveys in firearm safety brochures and study poster signage. The opportunity will be offered for individuals to take home a cable lock after visiting or to scan the QR code on the brochure/poster to fill out the study survey and get a safety device shipped to a participant address. Participants who fill out the study survey will be randomized to receive either a cable lock as the default or a choice between cable lock and lock box to test acceptance and usage rates. For those who accepted a cable lock at the hospital will automatically be grouped in the cable lock default group. The hypothesis that is being tested is if iterative pilot testing will reveal a feasible method that balances pragmatism and confidentiality as well as compare acceptance and usage rates among cable locks and lock boxes.

The intended outcome of this study is development of critical evidence to facilitate the scaling of this program to other hospitals and launch a promising research program to study the acceptability, long term use, and cost-effectiveness of a scalable approach to promote safe firearm storage.

This research study is to design and pilot test a method for collecting data on storage device use among patients and visitors who accept firearm safety materials or are interested in receiving a firearm storage device shipped to the participant's address. The study design is an iterative pilot test of survey data collection methods and determination of scalability and feasibility for distribution of firearm storage devices. The study population and sample will be (a) individuals who are patients or visitors to PAH who are screened for a firearm, screen positive, and accept a firearm safety brochure and storage device OR (b) individuals interested in receiving a firearm storage device and self-scan the unique QR code on the study poster in the entry hall of PAH with minimal or no security supervisor engagement. A unique QR code linking directly to the initial survey will be embedded into the firearm safety brochure as well as the poster in the entry hall of PAH next to the distribution area. Individual group (a) will be informed by security that survey participation is optional, but that it is helpful for efforts. Individual group (b) will not be actively engaged by security, and will self-enroll in the study by viewing the posted signage and completing the QR code linked survey.