MMA Looking for Volunteers for Firearm Safety Physician Interview Study

August 3, 2023

The MMA is working in collaboration with public health researchers at the University of Minnesota to conduct a research interview study with Minnesota physicians. 

This research is continuation of work started in 2022 when the MMA helped convene the Minnesota Firearm Safety and Suicide Prevention Coalition, as a way to raise awareness of the role that firearms play in suicides.   

The research will include interviews with physicians who have talked with patients about safe firearm storage during healthcare appointments. The purpose of the study is to learn from these physicians’ experiences to create tools and guidelines for other physicians who are interested in addressing firearm storage with their patients, but do not know how to approach it or what to expect from such conversations. 

The goal is to make such patient conversations about firearm storage part of routine healthcare to achieve broader firearm safety. Participation in this research study will be approximately one hour (this includes reviewing the study consent form, a brief demographic survey, and the 30- to 45-minute interview). The interviews will be conducted via Zoom or phone. 

Eligible participants include practicing physicians in Minnesota and practicing physicians who have had conversations with patients about safe firearm storage. The MMA is looking to interview physicians from a variety of primary care practice settings, and geographic locations across Minnesota. 

If you are interested in participating, please visit the following page, and provide your contact information: Minnesota Firearm Safety and Suicide Prevention Coalition - Physician Interviews: Interest Form. 

If you have any questions, please contact Juliana Milhofer.