Content assessment and readability of online injury prevention resources on firearm safety: a cross-sectional analysis of hospital and national injury prevention literature.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Firearm-related injuries are a preventable public health epidemic and the leading cause of pediatric death in America. Online injury prevention resources (OIPRs) offer potential for educating the public on firearm safety. National public health organizations recommend a sixth-grade reading level for these resources. We hypothesize that OIPRs for firearm safety may not meet this standard and are inconsistent in content.

Methods

We analyzed firearm injury OIPRs from three sources: verified trauma centers (TCs), national health organizations, and gun violence prevention advocacy groups. We assessed readability using reading time, Flesch-Kincaid grade level, and Flesch reading ease. We also assessed whether OIPRs included child safety, safe handling, and safe storage

SUBMITTER: Mahajan A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12184382 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature