Firearm Violence: Policy, Prevention & Public Health - Module 2: Unintentional Firearm Fatality & Suicide

Firearm Violence: Policy, Prevention & Public Health - Module 2: Unintentional Firearm Fatality & Suicide is organized by Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS).

Activity Term:
Original Release Date: June 15, 2016
Review Date: December 15, 2017, March 26, 2019
Termination Date: March 26, 2022

Accreditation:
AMA Credit Designation Statement
The Massachusetts Medical Society designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)
Physician Assistants may claim 0.25 Category 1 credits for completing this activity. NCCPA accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ from organizations accredited by ACCME or a recognized state medical society.

Course Overview:
Firearm violence in America has reached epidemic proportions. The number of deaths and injuries from shootings has fueled a public health crisis throughout the nation in cities and small towns alike. The toll of gun violence on individuals, families, and communities is clear and public opinion polls show that most Americans, including gun-owners, agree that gun violence is a significant societal issue and favor reasonable limits on the access to firearms. However, instances of daily gun violence and mass shootings continue.   A 2013 Pew Research Center survey cites that 37% of adults reported having a gun in their household: 24% say they personally own a gun, and 13% say the gun or guns in their home are owned by someone else.  It is important that the medical profession learn to assist patients and the community develop firearm safety strategies in the home to help curtail the incidence of intentional and unintentional injury and death from firearms.

This course includes archived presentations from policy leaders, researchers, and public health experts providing the latest research and information on this complex issue including gun owner perspectives, empirical data, and intervention initiatives that inform efforts and strategies that positively impact gun violence prevention policies and programs.

Learning Objectives:
• Analyze the comparative data on fatality and suicide
• State the association between access to lethal means and suicide
• Explain the importance of assessing risk and restricting access to lethal means in preventing suicide