Emergency Room Firearm and Medication Safety Intervention
United States28 participantsStarted 2021-07-01
Plain-language summary
Seventeen United States Veterans die by suicide each day. Nearly three-fourths of those Veterans die from firearm injury or poisoning, and many seek care in VA Emergency Departments (ED) prior to suicide attempts. In 2019, the VA began screening all Veterans seeking ED care for increased suicide risk. Interventions that promote firearm and medication safety are recommended for Veterans identified as at-risk. The investigators work will provide important information that will aid the development and testing of such an intervention for Veterans who seek care in VA EDs. The investigators will interview at-risk Veterans who recently sought VA ED care to identify factors relevant to developing the intervention, and work with Veterans and VA healthcare staff to develop and test an intervention.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Veteran
* Recent Emergency Room care
* Screen positive for elevated suicide risk
Exclusion Criteria:
* Severe cognitive impairment
* Lack decisional capacity
* Unable to provide informed consent
* Lack reliable phone access
* Admitted to the hospital
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Qualitative Theme Among 28 Patients on Perspectives on Lethal Means Interventions