title: Patients' attitudes about the role of physicians in counseling about firearms.
abstract: This study investigated ambulatory clinic patients' perceptions regarding the physician's role in counseling about firearms in the United States. In all, 137 (94% response rate) patients completed a self-administered survey instrument during their office visit. Slightly more than half (56%) of the patients thought that physicians should talk to patients about guns in the home and 64% of the patients believed that doctors can affect public opinion about guns by counseling patients about gun-related dangers. One in five (21%) respondents reported that they, or a family member had been shot and 58% reported knowing someone personally who had been shot. Of the 23% who reported that someone in their home owned a gun, 52% indicated that the reason for owning a gun was for personal protection. Implications of the results for physician counseling are discussed.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clause
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Everett
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D005389:Firearms; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010819:Physician's Role