Training on Firearm Injury Violence Screening and Safety among Medical Professionals: A Scoping Review

Background In June of 2024, the United States’ Surgeon General declared firearm violence a public health crisis due to its morbidity and mortality across patient demographics. Additionally, calls for research and training in firearm injury have been made by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and other bodies of medical education. Despite these declarations, there is scant literature on the implementation of firearm curriculum in medical schools. Objective This study evaluates the current firearm injury prevention interventions in health professional programs with an aim of highlighting the opportunities for training on firearm injury prevention in medical education. Methods Using PRIMSA-ScR guidelines, an online search was run in OVID Medline and PubMed. Articles that met inclusion criteria were screened for data extraction and included in the review. Results Of the 20 studies included in the review, 3 included medical students. Only 2 of these studies directed towards students included content specific to firearm screening and counseling. The remaining studies were delivered in settings specific for pediatric providers (13/17). Discussion There is a need for education on firearm screening and safety interventions in medical school. Studies among resident doctors found that knowledge and confidence in firearm safety screening and counseling diminish as early as 6-months after the initial intervention; by incorporating training earlier in medical education, there is greater opportunity for longitudinal practicing of these skills and integration into clinical practice as well as increased prevention of firearm violence.