ShootSafe: An Interactive Web Platform to Teach Children Hunting, Shooting and Firearms Safety
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Enrollment
- 163
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Number of Knowledge Items Answered Correctly
Study Overview
Brief Summary
Firearms injuries present a major pediatric public health challenge, killing >800 children ages 0-15 annually and leading to lifelong disability among >1000 survivors. About ⅓ of firearms injuries to children under age 15 are due to unintentional causes rather than suicide or homicide. The investigators propose development and evaluation of ShootSafe, an innovative, engaging, and educational website accessible by smartphone, tablet or computer that engages children to learn firearms safety.
ShootSafe extends existing programs to achieve 3 primary goals: a) teach children knowledge and skills they need to hunt, shoot, and use firearms safely; b) help children learn and hone critical cognitive skills of impulse control and hypothetical thinking needed to use firearms safely; and c) alter children's perceptions about their own vulnerability and susceptibility to firearms-related injuries, the severity of those injuries, and their perceived norms about peer behavior surrounding firearms use. ShootSafe will accomplish these goals through a combination of interactive games plus podcast videos delivered by peer actors (impactful testimonials about firearms injuries/deaths they experienced) and experts (wisdom & experience from trusted role models). The website will also incorporate brief messaging to parents, who will absorb key lessons and reinforce them with their children.
The website will be evaluated through a randomized controlled trial with 162 children ages 10-12, randomly assigning children to engage in the ShootSafe website or an active control website on child nutrition. The investigators will incorporate sub-aims to evaluate changes in children's (a) knowledge, (b) cognitive skills in impulse control and hypothetical thinking, (c) perceptions about firearms safety, and (d) simulated behavior when handling, storing and transporting firearms. All outcome measures will be assessed at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at a 4-month follow-up assessment to evaluate retention. Training will comprise two 30-minute sessions.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Prevention
- Masking
- Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 10 Years to 12 Years (Child)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •children ages 10-12 years
- •English-speaking child and parent
- •Experience or exposure to firearms in their homes or through engagement in hunting or shooting
Exclusion Criteria
- •disabilities that prohibit participants from valid understanding of or participation in the experimental protocol
- •siblings of enrolled child
Arms & Interventions
nutrition
Children will spend two 45-minute sessions engaged in vHappy, an internet-based training program on nutrition and wellbeing.
Intervention: nutrition (Behavioral)
firearms safety
Children will spend two 45-minute sessions engaged on ShootSafe, an internet-based training program on firearms safety.
Intervention: firearms safety (Behavioral)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Number of Knowledge Items Answered Correctly
Time Frame: 1 week after intervention completed
firearms safety knowledge scale (10 items, minimum value 0 and maximum value 10). Higher scores indicate greater knowledge.
Risky Behavior in Simulated Hunting Scenario
Time Frame: 1 week after intervention completed
Number of simulated situations when it was dangerous to shoot the toy firearm and the child took shots
Secondary Outcomes
No secondary outcomes reported
Investigators
David Schwebel
University Professor of Psychology & Associate Vice President for Research Facilities & Infrastructure
University of Alabama at Birmingham