Testing Family Firearm Secure Storage Training (FFAST) to Prevent Suicide
Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-80
SponsorVA Office of Research and Development
About this trial
Firearms are the lethal means used in over 70% of Veteran suicides with rates of Veteran deaths via self-induced firearm injury rising dramatically (by 64.8%) from 2001 to 2022. Upstream, evidence-based lethal means safety interventions are urgently needed within the VA to address this serious issue. The Family Firearms Secure Storage Training (FFAST) intervention consists of single session in which Veterans and their concerned significant others (CSOs) are guided through a discussion on secure firearm storage practices and develop a safety plan to prepare them for a mental health crisis. This study aims to evaluate the relative effectiveness of FFAST against a control condition in promoting secure firearm storage planning, preparedness for a mental health crisis, and secure storage practices within Veterans and their CSOs. In addition, barriers and facilitating factors of implementing FFAST within the VA Caregiver Support Program and Suicide Prevention 2.0 will be examined to aid in the widespread adoption of FFAST across the VA.
Eligibility criteria
This trial accepts healthy volunteersQualifiers
Enrolled or eligible to be enrolled in the VA healthcare system
enrolled in the Caregiver Program
able to comprehend the informed consent form and provide consent over the phone or via teleconference
firearm owner in which they report at least 1 firearm is currently located in the home and stored in an unsecure manner (e.g., unlocked and/or loaded)
Disqualifiers
None
Trial design
Design model
Parallel
Treatments tested in this trial
The Family Firearms Secure storage Training (FFAST) Intervention
BehavioralThe intervention consists of a brief, single-session intervention where a Veteran and their CSO work together to create a secure storage plan for firearms in the home in the event the Veteran experiences a mental health crisis, and how the CSO can support the Veteran during a crisis. This intervention can be used by any Veteran who owns firearms, and neither the Veteran nor CSO need to be experiencing mental health symptoms to participate. The intervention serves as an upstream method of suicide prevention that can be delivered in-person, through a telehealth appointment, or over the phone.
Health and Stress Counseling
BehavioralHSC is a brief intervention where Veterans and their CSOs meet with an interventionist to learn how to support a Veteran's well-being. Areas include diet, exercise, sleep, stress, and other factors that may impact overall health.
Treatment groups
176 Participants
are divided into 3 treatment groupsGroup A: The Family Firearms Secure storage Training (FFAST) InterventionExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: Health and Stress Counseling (HSC)Active comparator 1 intervention
Group C: WaitlistNo intervention 0 interventions
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Number of Participants With a Firearm Secure Storage Plan
Participants will be asked via survey their if they have a plan (yes/no), if the plan is written down, and if they have discussed the plan with their Veteran or CSO. Unit of Measurement: Number of participants
Time frame
Baseline and 1, 3, and 6 months2
Participant Knowledge, Behaviors, and Preparedness Related to Firearm Secure Storage
Participants will self-report their knowledge, behaviors, and preparedness for enacting a firearm secure storage plan. Three survey items created for this trial will include knowledge of mental health warning signs, willingness to participate in planning, and preparedness for a mental health crisis. Unit of Measurement: Total scores of these items will range from 5 - 15, and are rated on a scale of 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating greater levels of agreement on understanding (Definitely Disagree - Definitely Agree) or willingness (Not Willing - Totally Willing).
Time frame
Baseline and 1, 3, 6 monthsSecondary outcomes
1
Number of Participants Who Report Secure Firearm Storage in the Home
Self-report assessment of how Veterans store one or all of the firearms in their home. Secure storage will be defined as either locked (using a gunlock or safe) and unloaded (ammunition removed and separate from the firearm), unlocked and unloaded, or locked and loaded. Unit of Measurement: Number of participants Measure Type: Categorical (Secure storage as defined above, Unlocked and unloaded, Locked and loaded)
Time frame
Baseline and 1, 3, 6 monthsSponsors and contacts
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
VA Office of Research and Development
Lead sponsor
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
Collaborator
Source ClinicalTrials.gov
This trial is not recruiting at the moment. You can still explore other options: