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Protocol - Access to Lethal Means

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Description

This protocol includes three questions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2004 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System State (BRFSS) Questionnaire. These questions capture whether firearms are present in the home and, if so, how they are stored (e.g., loaded and unlocked).

Specific Instructions

This protocol includes questions that can potentially identify respondents who are at risk of suicide. Investigators implementing this protocol should consider developing a risk management plan specific to their study to ensure the safety of participants. The following links provide additional information and guidelines for suicide-related research:

ora.research.ucla.edu/OHRPP/Documents/Policy/8/Risk_of_Suicide.pdf

www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention/issues-to-consider-in-intervention-research-with-persons-at-high-risk-for-suicidality.shtml

Availability

Available

Protocol

The next questions are about firearms. We are asking these in a health survey because of our interest in firearm-related injuries. Please include weapons such as pistols, shotguns, and rifles but not BB guns, starter pistols, or guns that cannot fire. Include those kept in a garage, outdoor storage area, or motor vehicle.

1. Are any firearms kept in or around your home?

1[ ]Yes

2[ ]No [Go to closing statement]

7[ ]Don’t know/Not sure [Go to closing statement]

9[ ]Refused [Go to closing statement]

2. Are any of these firearms now loaded?

1[ ]Yes

2[ ]No [Go to closing statement]

7[ ]Don’t know/Not sure [Go to closing statement]

9[ ]Refused [Go to closing statement]

3. Are any of these loaded firearms also unlocked? By unlocked, we mean you do not need a key or combination to get the gun or to fire it. We don’t count a safety as a lock.

1[ ]Yes

2[ ]No

7[ ]Don’t know/Not sure

9[ ]Refused

Closing statement

Please read:

That’s my last question. Everyone’s answers will be combined to give us information about the health practices of people in this state. Thank you very much for your time and cooperation.

Personnel and Training Required

The interviewer must be trained to conduct personal interviews with individuals from the general population. The interviewer must be trained and found to be competent (i.e., tested by an expert) at the completion of personal interviews. The interviewer should be trained to prompt respondents further if a "don’t know" response is provided.

Equipment Needs

The PhenX Working Group acknowledges these questions can be administered in a computerized or noncomputerized format (i.e., paper-and-pencil instrument). Computer software is necessary to develop computer-assisted instruments. The interviewer will require a laptop computer/handheld computer to administer a computer-assisted questionnaire.

Requirements
Requirement CategoryRequired
Major equipment No
Specialized training No
Specialized requirements for biospecimen collection No
Average time of greater than 15 minutes in an unaffected individual No
Mode of Administration

Interviewer-administered questionnaire

Lifestage

Adult

Participants

Adults, ages 18 and older.

Selection Rationale

These three questions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2004 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System State (BRFSS) Questionnaire were selected as the best standardized methodology for determining access to firearms. These questions were administered in the BRFSS in 1995-98, 2001, 2002, and 2004.

Language

English, Spanish

Standards
StandardNameIDSource
Human Phenotype Ontology Suicidal Ideation HP:0031589 HPO
caDSR Form PhenX PX641001 - Access To Lethal Means 6235228 caDSR Form
Derived Variables

None

Process and Review

Not applicable.

Protocol Name from Source

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System State (BRFSS) Questionnaire, 2004

Source

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2004). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey Data. Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Questions 21.1, 21.2, 21.3

General References

Miller, M., Azrael, D., & Barber, C. (2012). Suicide mortality in the United States: The importance of attending to method in understanding population-level disparities in the burden of suicide. Annual Review of Public Health, 33(1), 393-408.

Miller, M, Azrael, D., & Hemenway, D. (2002). Household firearm ownership and suicide rates in the United States. Epidemiology, 13(5), 517-524.

Miller, M., Barber, C., White, R. A., & Azrael, D. (2013). Firearms and suicide in the United States: Is risk independent of underlying suicidal behavior? American Journal of Epidemiology, 178(6), 946-955.

Protocol ID

641001

Variables
Export Variables
Variable Name Variable IDVariable DescriptiondbGaP Mapping
PX641001_Firearms_In_Home
PX641001010000 Are any firearms kept in or around your home? N/A
PX641001_Firearms_Loaded
PX641001020000 Are any of these firearms now loaded? N/A
PX641001_Loaded_Firearms_Unlocked
PX641001030000 Are any of these loaded firearms also more
unlocked? By unlocked, we mean you do not need a key or combination to get the gun or to fire it. We don't count a safety as a lock. show less
N/A
Suicide
Measure Name

Access to Lethal Means

Release Date

November 21, 2014

Definition

A questionnaire to determine availability of firearms in the home.

Purpose

The presence of firearms in the home is a strong predictor of suicide risk. Half of all suicides involve use of guns, and suicide rates are higher in areas where gun ownership is common.

Keywords

Firearms, Guns, suicide

Measure Protocols
Protocol ID Protocol Name
641001 Access to Lethal Means
Publications

Goodman, M., et al. (2020) Group (?Project Life Force?) versus individual suicide safety planning: A randomized clinical trial. Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications. 2020 January; 17: 100520. doi: 10.1016/j.conctc.2020.100520