PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Harrison, Laura K
AU  - Sathya, Chethan
AU  - Shekher-Kapoor, Monica
AU  - Butkus, Stephen
AU  - Kapoor, Sandeep
TI  - Development, dissemination and survey evaluation of layered education for healthcare professionals to support implementation of firearm injury and mortality prevention strategies in emergency care settings, New York, USA
AID  - 10.1136/ip-2024-045333
DP  - 2024 Oct 14
TA  - Injury Prevention
PG  - ip-2024-045333
4099  - http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/early/2024/10/13/ip-2024-045333.short
4100  - http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/early/2024/10/13/ip-2024-045333.full
AB  - Background There is consensus on the need and ability to address firearm injury risk in healthcare settings; however, the lack of education for healthcare professionals hinders the implementation of evidence-based firearm injury and mortality prevention strategies. The objectives of this study are to develop, disseminate and evaluate education for team members to facilitate implementation in emergency departmentsMethod Two-tiered education was developed in partnership with stakeholders and disseminated to the healthcare team, covering evidence-based screening and interventions for firearm access and violence risk. The implementation, development and dissemination strategies followed the framework used for systemwide Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment implementation for substance use. Team members who screened patients for firearm injury risk received screening education and team members meeting with patients who screened positive received intervention education. Participants completed surveys to evaluate the education and learning objectives.Results Across three emergency departments from March 2021 to May 2022, 267 team members completed screening education. Key takeaways reported by 173 participants were how to screen (24.9%), the 5L’s of Firearm Safety (19.7%) and the prevalence of firearm injury (11.0%). Participants still had questions about workflow, resources and safety. 34 of 67 (50.7%) intervention education participants completed the postsurvey. 100% were confident they could screen, 79% were confident they could provide brief interventions and 88% were confident their site could implement firearm injury prevention strategies.Conclusion Tiered education for firearm injury prevention screening and intervention achieved learning objectives and facilitated programme implementation. Education increased knowledge and confidence regarding firearm injury risk screening and its importance in healthcare settings.Data are available on reasonable request. The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, LKH, on reasonable request with data sharing agreement.