AHE Gun Violence Prevention Grants Program: Jefferson Health

topic area

Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention

institution

Jefferson Health

description

Gun locks are an inexpensive and effective method of improving firearm storage safety to reduce injury; however, there is little evidence about the use of safe storage after gun lock distribution. Utilizing a mobile screening van, the Jefferson Health team will develop, implement, and evaluate a safe gun storage initiative in which gun locks and safe gun ownership educational materials are distributed to communities in the Greater Philadelphia region upon completion of a prostate screening. The goal of this research project is to understand if a mobile cancer screening van is an effective method of distributing firearm-safe storage devices in an effort to prevent firearm injury.  

Jefferson Health clinicians and public health workers will work alongside staff from the Jefferson Community Health Workers Collective to support these screening events and the distribution of gun safety materials. Additionally, the research team will conduct follow-up surveys after the distribution date at multiple time intervals to understand the impact on behavior and attitudes. This project is a unique demonstration of collaboration between clinical healthcare providers, public health researchers, and CHWs within a health system.

project leads

Stanton Miller, MD, MPH

Rosemary Frasso, PhD, MSc, CPH

funding source

Accelerate Health Equity

status

The Jefferson Health research team plans to expand the original project model to utilize other mobile van screening programs, such as breast health, in the future. In addition, they plan to model this program throughout the primary care practices of Jefferson Health’s 32-hospital health system.