TABLE 1.

Characteristics of the Sample.

Survey ResultsPatients Completing Project (n = 127) % (No.)Group 1 Control Group (n = 39) % (No.)Group 2 Verbal Counseling (n = 36) % (No.)Group 3 Verbal + Written Counseling (n = 52) % (No.)Lost to Follow-up (n = 29) % (No.)
Demographic characteristics
 Male31 (39)36 (14)33 (11)25 (13)38 (11)
 Female69 (88)64 (25)67 (24)75 (39)62 (18)
 African American*6 (8)8 (3)3 (1)6 (3)10 (3)
 Hispanic*55 (70)39 (15)81 (29)50 (26)45 (13)
 White*39 (49)54 (21)17 (6)44 (23)45 (13)
 Spanish only2 (3)−0 (0)3 (1)4 (2)3 (1)
 Children in household41 (52)41 (16)42 (15)39 (20)32 (9)
 Mean number of children0.7 (1.2 SD)0.6 (0.8 SD)0.7 (0.9 SD)0.9 (1.5 SD)0.6 (1.0 SD)
 Mean age, years49.1 (14.0 SD)50.4 (13.5 SD)48.1 (15.6 SD)48.9 (13.4 SD)47.1 (15.4 SD)
Gun storage and ownership at enrollment
 Triple safe storage36 (46)41 (16)33 (12)35 (18)27 (8)
 Stores gun loaded20 (25)26 (10)11 (4)22 (11)31 (9)
 Stores gun unlocked51 (65)41 (16)61 (22)52 (27)52 (15)
 Children know location of gun12 (6 of 51)25 (4 of 16)0 (0 of 15)10 (2 of 20)20 (3 of 15)
 Mean number of guns2.8 (3.6 SD)2.5 (3.9 SD)3.8 (4.4 SD)2.4 (2.4 SD)4.6 (11.4 SD)
 Owns handguns48 (61)59 (23)42 (15)42 (22)52 (15)
 Owns rifles or shotguns62 (78)59 (23)56 (20)69 (36)57 (17)
  • * Ethnic composition differs between experimental groups, χ2 = 14.4, P = .006

  • Excluding 1 patient who reported owning 63 guns, mean number of guns is 2.4, range 1–10, SD = 2.1.