In a new study by the Center for Violence Prevention (CVP) at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), researchers found that video-based education about firearm secure storage significantly increased caregivers' intentions to inquire about firearms in other homes and enhanced the adoption of secure storage practices. The findings were published in the journal Academic Pediatrics.
Firearms have become the leading cause of death among children and teens in the United States, surpassing car crashes annually since 2020. With approximately 30 million children living in homes with firearms – and with nearly 5 million homes having loaded and unlocked guns – there is an urgent need for intervention. The rise in mental health issues among youth further exacerbates the risks of suicide and unintentional shootings. Recognizing this crisis, leaders at CVP are actively developing multiple strategies to enhance firearm safety and prevent avoidable tragedies.
The study, which was conducted at an urban, mid-Atlantic hospital center from January to July 2020, is the first to fully assess the impact of video-based education on the firearm secure storage behaviors of caregivers for pediatric emergency department patients. By integrating video education with the provision of free gun cable locks, the study sought to influence caregivers' practices regarding firearm safety, particularly inquiring about firearm presence in homes their children visit.
“Video-based education can be a solution to barriers for providing secure storage counseling in medical settings, such as time constraints, provider self-efficacy, and need for standardized messaging,” said Sofia Chaudhary, MD, the study’s lead author who conducted the research as a CHOP pediatric emergency medicine fellow and is now an Assistant Professor in Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine. “We found that caregivers were receptive to video education and continued to be receptive after the onset of the pandemic.”
In this study, trained research assistants used scripted messaging to approach caregivers about study participation both in-person and virtually. Participants received educational handouts and watched a video on secure firearm storage and reminders to inquire about firearms before their child visits other homes, adapted from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Participants with firearm access were also offered a free gun lock and watched a video by the Philadelphia Sheriff’s office on proper use of gun locks and lock boxes.
Participants completed surveys before and after the intervention to assess their secure-storage practices and whether they inquired about firearms in homes their children might visit. Those reporting firearm presence at home were followed up at intervals of two weeks, two months and six months post-intervention to evaluate changes in behavior.
Out of 307 participants, 39 reported having a firearm present within their home, 89.7% having access to handguns. After the video-based education, the intention to inquire about firearms in other homes rose from 34.5% to 85.3% and was sustained at two-week follow-up. Secure storage usage increased significantly for handguns, with 88.6% of firearm-accessible participants utilizing a secure storage device at two weeks and subsequent rates of secure storage device continuing to remain stable at 2 months and 6 months. Caregivers also reported that the information was actionable, prompting them to ask about the presence of firearms in homes their children visited and to share educational resources they received.
“The study encourages further development of an adaptable model for institutions to offer universal device distribution and consider utilizing video-based secure storage education for their ED patients,” said Joel Fein, MD, MPH, a senior author and co-director of CVP at CHOP.
Funding was provided by the Nicholas Crognale Chair for Emergency Medicine at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Chaudhary et al. “Paired Video-based Counseling and Firearm Safety Device Distribution in a Pediatric Emergency Department.” Acad Pediatr. Online October 28, 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.acap.2025.103168.
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In a new study by the Center for Violence Prevention (CVP) at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), researchers found that video-based education about firearm secure storage significantly increased caregivers' intentions to inquire about firearms in other homes and enhanced the adoption of secure storage practices. The findings were published in the journal Academic Pediatrics.
Firearms have become the leading cause of death among children and teens in the United States, surpassing car crashes annually since 2020. With approximately 30 million children living in homes with firearms – and with nearly 5 million homes having loaded and unlocked guns – there is an urgent need for intervention. The rise in mental health issues among youth further exacerbates the risks of suicide and unintentional shootings. Recognizing this crisis, leaders at CVP are actively developing multiple strategies to enhance firearm safety and prevent avoidable tragedies.
The study, which was conducted at an urban, mid-Atlantic hospital center from January to July 2020, is the first to fully assess the impact of video-based education on the firearm secure storage behaviors of caregivers for pediatric emergency department patients. By integrating video education with the provision of free gun cable locks, the study sought to influence caregivers' practices regarding firearm safety, particularly inquiring about firearm presence in homes their children visit.
“Video-based education can be a solution to barriers for providing secure storage counseling in medical settings, such as time constraints, provider self-efficacy, and need for standardized messaging,” said Sofia Chaudhary, MD, the study’s lead author who conducted the research as a CHOP pediatric emergency medicine fellow and is now an Assistant Professor in Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine. “We found that caregivers were receptive to video education and continued to be receptive after the onset of the pandemic.”
In this study, trained research assistants used scripted messaging to approach caregivers about study participation both in-person and virtually. Participants received educational handouts and watched a video on secure firearm storage and reminders to inquire about firearms before their child visits other homes, adapted from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Participants with firearm access were also offered a free gun lock and watched a video by the Philadelphia Sheriff’s office on proper use of gun locks and lock boxes.
Participants completed surveys before and after the intervention to assess their secure-storage practices and whether they inquired about firearms in homes their children might visit. Those reporting firearm presence at home were followed up at intervals of two weeks, two months and six months post-intervention to evaluate changes in behavior.
Out of 307 participants, 39 reported having a firearm present within their home, 89.7% having access to handguns. After the video-based education, the intention to inquire about firearms in other homes rose from 34.5% to 85.3% and was sustained at two-week follow-up. Secure storage usage increased significantly for handguns, with 88.6% of firearm-accessible participants utilizing a secure storage device at two weeks and subsequent rates of secure storage device continuing to remain stable at 2 months and 6 months. Caregivers also reported that the information was actionable, prompting them to ask about the presence of firearms in homes their children visited and to share educational resources they received.
“The study encourages further development of an adaptable model for institutions to offer universal device distribution and consider utilizing video-based secure storage education for their ED patients,” said Joel Fein, MD, MPH, a senior author and co-director of CVP at CHOP.
Funding was provided by the Nicholas Crognale Chair for Emergency Medicine at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Chaudhary et al. “Paired Video-based Counseling and Firearm Safety Device Distribution in a Pediatric Emergency Department.” Acad Pediatr. Online October 28, 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.acap.2025.103168.
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