Citation

Kuhls DA, Campbell BT, Thomas A, Michaels H, Bulger EM, Stewart RM. J. Am. Coll. Surg. 2021; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, American College of Surgeons, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2021.06.020

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Firearm-related injuries and deaths continue to be a significant public health burden in the United States. The purpose of this study is to describe the results of a survey of U.S. members of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) on their practices, attitudes, and beliefs regarding firearms and firearm policies. The survey was designed to gain a representative understanding of the views of all U.S. ACS members to help inform ACS positions related to firearm injury prevention. STUDY DESIGN: A professional survey firm was engaged to facilitate the design of the survey and to support a web-based platform. Data collection through an anonymous survey began in July of 2018, with the survey closing in September 2018. Survey data were weighted, and analyses included descriptive and bivariate statistics.

RESULTS: 54,761 ACS members were invited to participate in the survey. Of those, 11,147 respondents completed the survey, for an overall response rate of 20.4%. Respondents were questioned on firearm experience, purpose of firearm ownership, opinions on firearm ownership, and importance of ACS support for specific firearm legislation. Survey results varied by practice/training location, practice type, military experience, gender, age, the presence of children in the home, level of training, and race/ethnicity. Survey respondents were ACS fellows (7,579, 68%), male (8,671, 77.8%), and white (8,639, 77.5%). Forty-two percent of respondents keep guns in their home. 75% of respondents believe that it is very or extremely important for the ACS to support policy initiatives to lower the incidence of firearm injury.

CONCLUSIONS: There is broad support among ACS members for many initiatives related to firearm injury prevention. The degree of support for these measures varies based on both the specific initiative and demographic characteristics. The results align with the ACS strategy of health care professionals working together to better understand and address the root causes of violence, while simultaneously working together to make firearm ownership as safe as reasonably possible.

Language: en

Keywords

injury prevention; survey; Firearm injury; surgeon