Illinois community health needs assessments: Disparities in prioritizing firearm violence prevention.

Background: Violent injuries contribute to significant death and disability in the United States every year. The number of hospitals who identify violence prevention as a priority is unknown. We sought to determine if hospitals in counties with high rates of firearm-related mortality identified violence prevention as a priority in their Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNAs) and if trauma center designation influenced this prioritization.

The intersection between firearm injury prevention and surgical practice: A qualitative study.

Background: Previous work demonstrates that counseling trauma patients on firearm safety is difficult for US surgeons to effectively incorporate into clinical practice. The objective of this study was to understand firearm-owning surgeons' perspectives on their role in firearm injury prevention.

Methods: We conducted 1:1 interviews with firearm-owning surgeons who were fellows of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and treated patients with firearm injuries.

How Well Are Surgical Quality Improvement Projects Planned? Review of 242 Surgical Improvement Efforts Across 5 American College of Surgeons Quality Programs.

Background: Structured preparation is necessary to conduct quality improvement (QI) strategies that are relevant to the problem, feasible, appropriately resourced, and potentially effective. Recent work suggests that improvement efforts are suboptimally conducted. Our goal was to determine how well preparation for surgical QI is undertaken, including detailing the problem, setting project goals, and planning an intervention.

Exploratory qualitative study of firearm storage practices among surgeons in the USA: contexts and motivations.

Background: A US survey of surgeons found that 32% store firearms unlocked and loaded. This study explored conditions and contexts impacting personal firearm storage methods among surgeons.

Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with English-speaking fellows of the American College of Surgeons who treated patients injured by firearms and who owned or lived in homes with firearms.

Are We Supporting Surgical Quality Improvement in Training and Beyond? A Qualitative Study of Surgical Trainees and Practicing Surgeons.

Background: We conducted a qualitative study to describe surgeon and surgical trainee perspectives of quality improvement (QI) in training and practice to elucidate how surgeons and trainees interact with barriers and leverage facilitators to learn and conduct QI.

Study Design: Surgeons and surgical trainees of the American College of Surgeons were recruited via email and snowball sampling to participate in focus groups. Eligible individuals were English speaking surgical trainees or practicing surgeons.

Characteristics of firearm injury by injury intent: The need for tailored interventions.

Introduction: While the United States has high quality data on firearm-related deaths, less information is available on those who arrive at trauma centers alive, especially those discharged from the emergency department. This study sought to describe characteristics of patients arriving to trauma centers alive following a firearm injury, postulating that significant differences in firearm injury intent might provide insights into injury prevention strategies.

Methods: This was a multicenter prospective cohort study of patients treated for firearm-related injuries at 128 US trauma centers from March 2021 to February 2022.