Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care (CIVIC)
Interagency Data Base Linkage: Precursors of Firearm Injuries and Suicide
What is the purpose of this Study?
Firearms are one of the most common causes of fatal and non-fatal injuries in the United States (US). The majority of suicides and homicides in the US are associated with firearms. It is possible that firearm-related injuries occur more often among Veterans. After returning home safely from combat, Veterans are at an increased risk of fatal injury during the first 5-7 years after deployment. Research has also shown Veterans to be at increased risk of nonfatal but serious (i.e., hospitalized) injuries after deployment. There is an urgent need for research on firearm-related injuries – for the US in general and for Veterans in particular. Data collected in this study on rates of, and risk factors for, all firearm injuries among Veterans would help inform firearm-specific interventions to reduce the risk of death and disability in this important, high-risk population.
Scientists, clinicians, policy-makers, Veterans, and Veterans’ family members believe that Veterans’ healthcare providers play a crucial role in preventing firearm-related deaths. However, research suggests that clinicians rarely discuss firearms with their patients, even when Veterans express suicidal thoughts. Clinicians state that scientific data would allow them to discuss this sensitive topic in a more politically impartial, patient-centered manner (e.g., ‘I’d like to ask you about your access to firearms because research shows…’). Thus, systematically-collected data on firearm injuries among Veterans is needed to provide the foundation for clinical interventions that address this problem in a research-based way.
Who is participating in this Study?
We will not be recruiting Veterans for this study. Instead, we will be studying national VA data and Oregon state data that are routinely collected by the VA and the state. We maintain a rigorous process to obtain these data and ensure that all information is kept secure and private. No individually-identifying information for Veterans will be reported; our research focuses on (and we only report) summary statistics for all Veterans combined.
If my information is used in this study, is it safe?
The databases we are using in this study contain data that could identify Veterans. However, this identifying information is only being used to link records from different databases. Once databases are linked, personal identifiers will be removed. No data that could identify Veterans will ever be published or shared with non-study staff.
To help us protect the privacy of Veterans in this study, we have obtained a Certificate of Confidentiality from the National Institutes of Health. The researchers can use this Certificate to legally refuse to disclose information that may identify research participants in any federal, state, or local civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, or other proceedings, for example, if there is a court subpoena. The researchers will use the Certificate to resist any demands for information that would identify research participants. (For more information on the Certificate of Confidentiality, please see below).
How will this study directly help Veterans?
Since we are analyzing data from events that have already occurred, and there will be no contact with the study participants, there is not likely to be a direct benefit to the study participants themselves. Instead, this research will help us gain a better understanding of Veterans’ risk of firearm injury compared to non-Veterans and factors related to Veterans’ risk of fatal and nonfatal firearm events. This information will allow us to propose interventions to help reduce the burden of intentional and unintentional firearm injury on the Veteran population.
Who is conducting this study?
This study is sponsored by The National Institute of Mental Health, which is part of The National Institutes of Health. The research team is led by Kathleen Carlson, PhD, Principal Investigator. Dr. Carlson is based at the VA Portland Health Care System in Oregon and has been conducting research on Veterans' post-deployment health for 10 years. (You can read more here).
Assisting her in Portland is Cody Goheen, Research Coordinator; Tess Gilbert, MHS, Program Manager; Ginnifer Mastarone, MS, PhDc, Research Associate; and Kelly Reavis, MPH, Graduate Research Assistant; along with several co-Investigators, Data Analysts, and Statisticians.
Who can I contact for more information?
If you have any questions about this study, please contact:
Kathleen Carlson, PhD, Principal Investigator
(866) 949-1004, extension 52094
Kathleen.carlson@va.gov
Certificate of Confidentiality
The Certificate cannot be used to resist a demand for information from personnel of the United States federal or state government agency sponsoring the project and that will be used for auditing or program evaluation of agency funded projects or for information that must be disclosed in order to meet the requirements of the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Study participants should understand that a Certificate of Confidentiality does not prevent a study participant or a member of the study participant's family from voluntarily releasing information about him/herself or his/her involvement in this research. If an insurer, medical care provider, or other person obtains the study participant's written consent to receive research information, then the researchers will not use the Certificate to withhold that information.
The Certificate of Confidentiality will not be used to prevent disclosure to state or local authorities of child abuse and neglect or harm to self or others.
