Gun ownership and counseling of Alabama pediatricians
C. A. Fargason Jr and C. Johnston
University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the personal behavior of primary care pediatricians
in Alabama with respect to a gun control policy. The American Academy of
Pediatrics supports removal of handguns from homes, safe gun storage in
homes with guns, and counseling patients about gun safety practices.
DESIGN: Survey. SETTING: Primary care pediatricians. PATIENTS OR OTHER
PARTICIPANTS: Population-based sample. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME
MEASURES: The proportion of pediatricians who were gun and handgun owners
was examined. In addition, the safety behaviors and counseling practices
reported by pediatricians were examined. RESULTS: The response rate for
pediatricians was 67%. Fifty percent of pediatricians reported owning a
gun. Thirty-four percent of pediatricians had a handgun in their household.
Eleven percent of pediatricians had unsafe gun practices, where unsafe was
defined as having a loaded gun in the home or car at least some of the
time. The most common reason for owning a handgun or having a loaded gun in
the home or car was personal protection. Only a third (33%) of
pediatricians routinely counseled their patients about gun safety. Long gun
owners were less likely to counsel patients about bike helmet safety and
were less likely to use car seats and bike helmets for their own children.
CONCLUSIONS: A large proportion of Alabama pediatricians are gun owners,
but most store weapons safely. Although long gun owners were less likely to
use car seats or bike helmets and less likely to counsel patients regarding
bike helmet use, no effect of gun ownership on counseling about gun safety
was identified.
