Title of Research
The Efficacy of Public Health Interventions Aimed at Curbing Gun Violence: An Integrative Review
Start Date
18-8-2017 10:00 AM
End Date
18-8-2017 11:30 AM
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Gun violence is a pressing public health issue in the United States. Homicide is the second-leading cause of death for 15 to 24 year-old Americans, and the third-leading cause of death for 25 to 34 year-old Americans, and 80% of these homicides are committed via firearm. In recent years, the field of criminology has studied the efficacy of a variety of policing, public health, and public policy interventions that aim to reduce the incidence of gun violence, but many of their findings have yet to be incorporated into the body of nursing literature.
Objective: This project’s objective was to review the relevant literature and determine which public health interventions have been most effective in reducing gun violence.
Methods: Studies were found using the CINAHL, ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health, EconLit, Proquest Criminal Justice, and ProQuest Social Sciences databases using the Boolean search keywords “gun violence reduction” AND “interventions” AND “efficacy.”
Results: Overall, studies of focused deterrence programs found that they demonstrated the most statistically significant positive effect in reducing gun violence.
Conclusion: A thorough review of the results showed a number of studies have demonstrated that focused deterrence programs can produce a positive and statistically significant effect in reducing gun violence, if they are designed effectively. Public policy also has an important role to play, but the evidence suggests that legislators need to target a large swath of gun regulation and be attentive to detail, as loopholes or poor quality checks can severely impact the efficacy of the legislation.
Keywords: violence, firearms, firearm violence, gun violence, efficacy, public health intervention, firearm legislation
Included in
Behavioral Economics Commons, Health Policy Commons, Nursing Commons, Public Policy Commons
The Efficacy of Public Health Interventions Aimed at Curbing Gun Violence: An Integrative Review
Abstract
Background: Gun violence is a pressing public health issue in the United States. Homicide is the second-leading cause of death for 15 to 24 year-old Americans, and the third-leading cause of death for 25 to 34 year-old Americans, and 80% of these homicides are committed via firearm. In recent years, the field of criminology has studied the efficacy of a variety of policing, public health, and public policy interventions that aim to reduce the incidence of gun violence, but many of their findings have yet to be incorporated into the body of nursing literature.
Objective: This project’s objective was to review the relevant literature and determine which public health interventions have been most effective in reducing gun violence.
Methods: Studies were found using the CINAHL, ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health, EconLit, Proquest Criminal Justice, and ProQuest Social Sciences databases using the Boolean search keywords “gun violence reduction” AND “interventions” AND “efficacy.”
Results: Overall, studies of focused deterrence programs found that they demonstrated the most statistically significant positive effect in reducing gun violence.
Conclusion: A thorough review of the results showed a number of studies have demonstrated that focused deterrence programs can produce a positive and statistically significant effect in reducing gun violence, if they are designed effectively. Public policy also has an important role to play, but the evidence suggests that legislators need to target a large swath of gun regulation and be attentive to detail, as loopholes or poor quality checks can severely impact the efficacy of the legislation.
Keywords: violence, firearms, firearm violence, gun violence, efficacy, public health intervention, firearm legislation