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Overview

Universal firearm injury and violence prevention counseling of parents and patients has been recommended by multiple national organizations for over a decade, yet clinicians rarely deliver this counseling. Barriers to its implementation must be addressed in order to effectively deliver firearm related injury prevention efforts.  The research team is currently studying implementation of firearm access screening and counseling using the ACTFAST (Adopting Comprehensive Training for FireArm Safety in Trauma centers) toolkit in 6 major pediatric and adult trauma centers. 

We apply our implementation science and subject matter expertise to support implementation of a universal firearm injury prevention initiative within a national cohort of three pediatric trauma centers and three adult Level 1 trauma centers. Our long-term goal is to demonstrate best practices for pediatric trauma center-based firearm injury prevention strategies that promote safe storage practices and reduce firearm related injury and death. Our team will test the feasibility and effectiveness of a comprehensive training strategy for improving the implementation of a universal firearm injury prevention program. 

Using the RE-AIM methodology, we will evaluate our comprehensive strategy across the domains of adoption, implementation, and maintenance at the institutional level. We will measure clinician firearm safety knowledge and confidence in delivering firearm prevention counseling after participation in the clinician training program as measured by pre and post training surveys.  In addition, we will collect and analyze patient and parent survey data before and after ACTFAST implementation for changes in knowledge, attitudes and, most importantly, practices at baseline and at 2 weeks and 3 months after hospital discharge.

We Aim to Do the Following

Increase

the adoption, implementation and sustainability of a universal firearm injury prevention initiative within participating trauma centers. 

Increase

firearm safety knowledge, attitudes and safe firearm storage practices among parents of pediatric trauma patients treated within participating pediatric level 1 trauma centers or of adult trauma patients treated within participating adult level 1 trauma centers.

Increase

trauma center clinicians’ firearm safety knowledge and confidence in delivering a firearm safety intervention.

Increase

firearm safety knowledge, attitudes and firearm safety practices of adolescent trauma patients (11-17 years) within participating pediatric level 1 trauma centers.  

ACTFAST for Kids

Principal Investigator: 

Katherine Hoops, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University 

Co-Investigators: 

Cassandra Crifasi, PhD MPH, Johns Hopkins University

Michelle Patch PhD, MSN, APRN-CNS, ACNS-BC, AFN-C, DF-AFN, FAAN, Johns Hopkins University

Michael Mello, MD MPH, Brown University

Johns Hopkins Children’s Center (Baltimore, MD)

Site PI: Isam Nasr, MD 

Johns Hopkins Children’s Center is the pediatric hospital at Johns Hopkins Hospital. It is Maryland’s only Level I Pediatric Trauma Center and the state’s largest children’s hospital. 

Johns hopkins children's center 

Children’s Minnesota Hospital (Minneapolis, MN)

Site PI: Andrew Kiragu, MD (Left)

Site Co-PI: Nathaniel Kreykes, MD (Right)

Children’s Minnesota is a Level I Trauma Center and one of the largest free-standing pediatric health systems in the United States.

cHILDREN'S MINNESOTA Hospital

Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital (Salt Lake City, UT)

Site PI: Charles Pruitt, MD 

Site Co-PI: Katie Russell, MD 

Intermountain Primary Children's Hospital is a 289-bed hospital and the sole Level I Pediatric Trauma Center serving a five-state region.

iNTERMOUNTAIN PRIMARY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

ACTFAST for Adults

Principal Investigator:

Katherine Hoops, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University 

Co-Investigators:

Cassandra Crifasi, PhD MPH, Johns Hopkins University

Michelle Patch PhD, MSN, APRN-CNS, ACNS-BC, AFN-C, DF-AFN, FAAN, Johns Hopkins University

Michael Mello, MD MPH, Brown University

Adrian Dobs, MD, Johns Hopkins University

Gayane Yenokyan, MD, PhD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins Hospital (Baltimore, MD)

Site PI: Joseph Sakran, MD, MPH, MPA 

JHH is a 1,000-bed academic medical center and Level I Trauma Center. 

jOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL

Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center (Baltimore, MD)

Site PI: Madhu Subramanian, MD 

JHBMC is a 420-bed academic medical hospital, Level II Trauma Center, and the region’s designated adult burn center. 

jOHNS HOPKINS BAYVIEW MEDICAL CENTER

Tower Health Reading Hospital (Reading, PA)

Reading Hospital is a designated Level I Trauma Center and leading healthcare facility recognized for its comprehensive medical services and patient-centered care. 

tower health reading hospital

ACTFAST Resource Request Form

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If you would like more information on the ACTFAST program or if you are interested in participating in future research and program building, please complete the following resource request:

Is your institution a trauma center?