Project Safe Guard-Trauma

Summary

The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to determine if a counseling intervention, Project Safe Guard-Trauma (PSG-T), increases secure firearm storage practices in adults who screen positive for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The main questions this study aims to answer are:

* Does PSG-T lead to more secure firearm storage practices?
* Does PSG-T increase knowledge about the link between firearm storage practices and suicide risk?
* Does PSG-T increase intentions to store firearms securely?

Researchers will compare PSG-T to a control, Project Safe Guard (PSG), which is a counseling intervention that does not focus on the potential influence of PTSD symptoms on firearm storage practices. This will help to determine if PSG-T works better than PSG to increase secure firearm storage in adults with elevated PTSD symptoms.

Participants will:

* Complete a baseline survey
* Receive the counseling intervention
* Complete a survey immediately after the intervention and at 1-, 3-, and 6-months following the intervention

Conditions

• PTSD
• Firearm Injury
• Suicide Prevention
• Firearm Safety

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Project Safe Guard - Trauma

Project Safe Guard-Trauma (PSG-T) is a brief (15- to 20-minute), single-session lethal means safety counseling intervention (LMSC) for firearm-owning individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PSG-T is designed to promote secure firearm storage practices by (1) using motivational interviewing techniques and (2) addressing the functional link between PTSD symptoms and unsafe firearm storage practices. In motivational interviewing-based LMSC, the clinician uses a guided approach to help individuals identify their values and motivations for secure firearm storage, rather than prescribing a certain set of actions. The focus is on respecting patients' autonomy and normalizing responsible firearm ownership by developing discrepancies, amplifying ambivalence, expressing empathy, rolling with resistance, and supporting self-efficacy. PSG-T combines PSG-proven motivational interviewing techniques with PTSD- and firearm-specific psychoeducation.

BEHAVIORAL

Project Safe Guard

Project Safe Guard-Trauma (PSG) is a brief (15- to 20-minute), single-session lethal means safety counseling intervention (LMSC) for firearm-owning individuals. PSG-T is designed to promote secure firearm storage practices by using motivational interviewing techniques. In motivational interviewing-based LMSC, the clinician uses a guided approach to help individuals identify their values and motivations for secure firearm storage, rather than prescribing a certain set of actions. The focus is on respecting patients' autonomy and normalizing responsible firearm ownership by developing discrepancies, amplifying ambivalence, expressing empathy, rolling with resistance, and supporting self-efficacy.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Colorado, Denver

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-05-15

Primary Completion

2028-06-14

Completion

2028-09-14

Countries

• United States

Study Locations