Family and friends are trusted by Veterans, and can play a vital role in supporting Veteran suicide prevention. Veterans are more likely to adopt secure firearm storage if their loved ones discuss firearm safety with them and if they are exposed to compelling personal stories. "Worried About a Veteran" (WAV) is an online resource that contains 13 powerful, video-based vignettes designed to empower loved ones to initiate life-saving conversations about safeguarding firearms in the homes of Veterans at risk for suicide. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of WAV in encouraging loved ones to discuss safe firearm storage with Veterans.
Living in U.S.
Family member, caregiver, or friend of a Veteran
Social contact at least once a week with a Veteran who possesses a household firearm, and
Access to a household firearm
Not providing a valid phone number and email address
No internet access
Indication of duplicate study entry
Parallel
WAV videos
Behavioral13 "Worried About a Veteran" video vignettes. The videos are brief (\< 3 minutes), professionally developed, and involve vignettes of Veterans' family members that teach warning signs of suicidal crisis, practical guidance for LMS, and how to collaboratively discuss lethal means and secure storage.
VA News videos
BehavioralVA News videos range in topic, such as VA benefits, research highlights, and Veteran interest stories (e.g., Veteran hockey league). Videos will be current at the time of study launch and unrelated to firearms and suicide prevention.
VA LMS brochure
Behavioral2-page VA educational brochure on lethal means safety (LMS). The brochure is titled "Reducing Firearm and Other Household Safety Risks for Veterans and Their Families," and it provides information on the importance of reducing access to lethal means such as firearms and medications for individuals at risk of suicide.
Discussions of safe firearm storage
Yes/No question about whether they recently discussed safe firearm storage with a Veteran. Answering "Yes" indicates a better outcome. If they answer in the affirmative, they will be asked follow-up questions to gauge frequency, mode (e.g., by phone, text, in-person), length, number of Veterans, and outcome of the conversation(s) (i.e., behavior change). Higher frequency and longer length of conversations, larger number of Veterans spoken to, and behavior change indicate successful discussions of safe firearm storage.
Firearm storage practices
Series of Yes/No/Not sure questions about the participants' personal firearms storage practices and practices in the Veteran. First, it will be determined if there is any access in or around the home (e.g., "kept in a garage, outdoor storage area, or motor vehicle") and the number of firearms. For individuals with access to firearms, subsequent questions will assess whether all firearms are stored safely: a) locked (defined as needing a "key or a combination or a hand/fingerprint to get the gun or to fire it"), b) loaded, and/or c) stored separately from ammunition. Safe firearm storage practices (locked, unloaded, and stored separately from ammunition) indicate a better outcome.
Knowledge of firearm injury/suicide
Five-item series of True/False questions on risks associated with access to lethal means, including unsecured firearms, and awareness of firearm injury and firearm suicide. Responses are totaled across all five items, ranging from 0 to 5, with a correct response receiving a score of "1." Higher scores indicate greater knowledge of lethal means safety and secure firearm storage.
Attitudes
Eight-item scale of attitudes toward discussing safe firearm storage adapted from the Perceptions about Services Scale (PASS). Responses are rated on a 7-point Likert-type scale. A mean score (range 1 to 7) is calculated across all items, with higher scores indicating a better attitude towards suicide prevention and safe firearm storage discussions.
Norms
Four-item scale of descriptive (i.e., what others think/do) and injunctive (i.e., what close others want me to think/do) norms related to discussing safe firearm storage adapted from the Perceptions about Services Scale (PASS). Responses are rated on a 7-point Likert-type scale. A mean score (range 1 to 7) is calculated across all items, with higher scores indicating stronger perceived norms supporting discussions about safe firearm storage.
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