Follow-up Gun Study: Can Safety Videos Mitigate Interest in Guns in Children?
A Gun Safety Video Can Reduce Children's Unsafe Behavior Around Real Guns: A Randomized Clinical Trial
1 other identifier
interventional
245
1 country
1
Brief Summary
The investigators' previous research has shown that children exposed to media characters with guns in movies and video games are more likely to use real guns themselves (e.g., touch them, hold them, pull the trigger). This research tests whether exposure to a gun safety video a week before the study can help counteract dangerous behavior around guns.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P75+ for not_applicable
Started Feb 2022
Shorter than P25 for not_applicable
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
Click on a node to explore related trials.
Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
September 20, 2021
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
February 2, 2022
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
February 25, 2022
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
October 16, 2022
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
October 16, 2022
CompletedResults Posted
Study results publicly available
November 20, 2024
CompletedNovember 20, 2024
October 1, 2024
9 months
September 20, 2021
April 5, 2023
October 2, 2024
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (7)
Behavioral: Gun Location
Trained research assistants, blind to video game condition and experimental hypotheses, will independently code the play session videos. Coders will identify whether the participants found the handguns, how long the participants held the handgun, and whether or not they pulled the trigger.
20 minutes play session
Behavioral: Gun Location Response - Told Adult
If the participants found the handguns, the coders will identify whether the participants told an adult.
20 minutes play session
Behavioral: Gun Location Response - Touched Gun
If the participants found the handguns, the coders will identify whether the participants touched the handgun.
20 minute play session
Behavioral: Gun Holding Time
If participants handle the gun, coders will record how long the gun was held.
20 minutes play session
Behavioral: Trigger Pulled
When the gun was handled, this measures whether or not the participant(s) pulled the trigger.
20 minute play session
Number of Trigger Pulls
The two guns hidden in the playroom contain sensors that count how often the trigger is pulled with sufficient force to discharge the gun. A counter on the weapon displays the number of pulls, which will be entered into a data file along with the observational data described below. Observational data will also be used to confirm trigger pull counts. Note: This measure includes all 216 participants who found the handguns.
20 minutes play session
Gun Pointing With Trigger Pull
Trained research assistants, blind to video game condition and experimental hypotheses, will independently code the play session videos. If participants pulled the trigger, were they pointing the gun at themselves or their partners? Calculations done using all participants who found a firearm.
20 minute play session
Secondary Outcomes (1)
Attitudes Toward Guns
After 20 minutes play session, 5 minute questionnaire
Study Arms (4)
Gun safety vid x Movie clip - guns present
EXPERIMENTALParticipants in this condition will view a gun safety video featuring The Ohio State University Chief of Police about a week before coming into the lab. In the lab, they will watch a \~20 minute clip of either The Rocketeer or National Treasure featuring guns.
Gun safety vid x Movie clip - guns absent
ACTIVE COMPARATORParticipants in this condition will view a gun safety video featuring The Ohio State University Chief of Police about a week before coming into the lab. In the lab, they will watch a \~20 minute clip of either The Rocketeer or National Treasure with the guns edited out.
Seatbelt safety video x Movie clip - guns present
ACTIVE COMPARATORParticipants in this condition will view a seatbelt safety video about a week before coming into the lab. In the lab, they will watch a \~20 minute clip of either The Rocketeer or National Treasure featuring guns.
Seatbelt safety video x Movie clip - guns absent
ACTIVE COMPARATORParticipants in this condition will view a seatbelt safety video about a week before coming into the lab. In the lab, they will watch a \~20 minute clip of either The Rocketeer or National Treasure featuring guns.
Interventions
Children will play in an observed room for 20 minutes. Aside from a selection of toys, two real handguns will be placed in a drawer. The handguns have been modified so they cannot fire. Inside the magazine, the handgun contains no bullets. Instead, it contains a sensor that counts the number of times the trigger is pulled with sufficient force to discharge the gun. This allows us to distinguish reliably the children who pull the trigger from those who handle the gun but do not pull the trigger
Children and their parents will be debriefed on the actual purpose of the study, including the role of the safety video and how the movie clips were edited.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Age 8-12 yrs
- No prior participation in the study
- Able to schedule participation with a known peer (8-12yo).
You may not qualify if:
- Younger than 8 yrs old
- Older than 12 yrs old
- Prior study participation
- Could not schedule participation with a known peer (8-12yo)
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (1)
The Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio, 43201, United States
Related Publications (1)
Kjaervik SL, Bushman BJ. Effect of a Gun Safety Video on Children's Behavior Around Real Guns: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Pediatr. 2023 Sep 1;177(9):903-910. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.2397.
PMID: 37459089DERIVED
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Interventions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Results Point of Contact
- Title
- Dr. Brad Bushman
- Organization
- The Ohio State University
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Brad J Bushman, PhD
Ohio State University
Publication Agreements
- PI is Sponsor Employee
- No
- Restrictive Agreement
- No
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- DOUBLE
- Who Masked
- PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
- Masking Details
- Participants did not know which condition they were in. Participants' parents were aware of the deception (hidden gun) and what condition their children were in (gun safety or seatbelt safety; movie with or without guns). Research personnel knew conditions as well. Research assistants who transcribed recorded laboratory sessions did not know what condition they were coding (eg. what type of movie participants watched) Research assistants coding the recorded observational data will be blind to the conditions of the participants they are coding, as well as the experimental hypotheses of the study.
- Purpose
- OTHER
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Professor of Communication and Psychology
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
September 20, 2021
First Posted
February 25, 2022
Study Start
February 2, 2022
Primary Completion
October 16, 2022
Study Completion
October 16, 2022
Last Updated
November 20, 2024
Results First Posted
November 20, 2024
Record last verified: 2024-10
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will share
- Shared Documents
- STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF, CSR, ANALYTIC CODE
- Time Frame
- After the manuscript is accepted for publication. No expiration date.
- Access Criteria
- Data will be open and available to all who want to examine them.
Deidentified data will be shared upon request