Physician firearm ownership as a predictor of firearm injury prevention practice

Abstract

Objectives: This study explored the relation between physicians' gun ownership and their attitudes and practices regarding firearm injury prevention.

Methods: Internists and surgeons were surveyed, and logistic regression models were developed with physicians' personal involvement with firearms (in the form of a gun score) as the primary independent variable.

Results: Higher gun scores were associated with less agreement that firearm injury is a public health issue and that physicians should be involved in firearm injury prevention but with a greater likelihood of reporting the inclusion of firearm ownership and storage as part of patient safety counseling.

Conclusions: Despite being less likely to say that doctors should participate in firearm injury prevention, physician gun owners are more likely than nonowners to report counseling patients about firearm safety.