Rebecca M. Cunningham

A Consensus-Driven Agenda for Emergency Medicine Firearm Injury Prevention Research

Study objective To identify critical emergency medicine–focused firearm injury research questions and develop an evidence‐based research agenda. Methods National content experts were recruited to a technical advisory group for the American College of Emergency Physicians Research Committee. Nominal group technique was used to identify research questions by consensus. The technical advisory group decided to focus on 5 widely accepted categorizations of firearm injury. Subgroups conducted literature reviews on each topic and developed preliminary lists of emergency medicine–relevant research questions. In‐person meetings and conference calls were held to iteratively refine the extensive list of research questions, following nominal group technique guidelines. Feedback from external stakeholders was reviewed and integrated. Results Fifty‐nine final emergency medicine–relevant research questions were identified, including questions that cut across all firearm injury topics and questions specific to self‐directed violence (suicide and attempted suicide), intimate partner violence, peer (nonpartner) violence, mass violence, and unintentional (“accidental”) injury. Some questions could be addressed through research conducted in emergency departments; others would require work in other settings. Conclusion The technical advisory group identified key emergency medicine–relevant firearm injury research questions. Emergency medicine–specific data are limited for most of these questions. Funders and researchers should consider increasing their attention to firearm injury prevention and control, particularly to the questions identified here and in other recently developed research agendas.

Prevalence and Correlates of Depression and Drinking Behaviors Among Adolescents and Emerging Adults in a Suburban Emergency Department

ABSTRACT Background: Both alcohol use and depression are concerning health issues among youth. The Emergency Department (ED) is a critical location to access youth with depressive symptoms and alcohol misuse. Objectives: To inform future interventions in the ED, this study examined the relationship between drinking behaviors and depressive symptoms among youth seeking ED care. Methods: Youth ages 14–20 were recruited from a level-1 trauma ED located in the Midwest as part of a larger ongoing study. Participants completed an electronic screening survey, which included assessment of alcohol use, depressive symptoms, and demographic variables. Two logistic regression models were conducted to assess the relationship between depressive symptoms with alcohol consumption and specific alcohol-related consequences. Results: Among 3,659 participants, bivariate analysis indicated that individuals screening positive for depression were more likely to be female, nonwhite, receive public assistance, and report higher scores on both alcohol consumption and alcohol-related consequences. Regression analyses indicated alcohol consumption, inability to stop drinking once starting, and feelings of guilt or remorse after drinking were significantly positively related to screening positive for depression. Conclusions/Importance: Current findings support use of the ED as a location for identifying youth who are experiencing co-morbid alcohol use and depressive symptoms. Future research should focus on the effectiveness of brief intervention in the ED that focuses on the co-occurrence of alcohol misuse and depressive symptoms among youth.