Studies on firearm injuries, health disparities, asthma among new research to be presented at conference

Editor’s note: The 2024 AAP National Conference & Exhibition will take place from Sept. 27-Oct. 1 in Orlando, Fla. For more coverage, visit https://bit.ly/AAPNationalConference2024 and follow @AAPNews on LinkedIn, Facebook and X. 

Research showing that parents and caregivers underestimate the risk of firearm-related suicide will be among the work highlighted at the National Conference. 

The Colorado-based study, which will be published in the October issue of Pediatrics, found that just 23.7% of surveyed state residents living with children correctly pointed to suicide as the leading cause of firearm deaths. 

“With this study, we have identified an opportunity to educate families about the preventability of suicide and how limiting firearm access in times of crisis can decrease suicide deaths,” said the study’s lead author Maya Haasz, M.D., FAAP, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. 

Survey responses from 512 caregivers found that 47.8% of those with firearms and 68.9% of those without thought suicide could be prevented. In addition, 59.6% of those with firearms and 77.7% of those without believed removing guns from the home temporarily would decrease the risk of injury or death during a mental health crisis.

“This is especially concerning when many believe that suicide can’t be prevented by measures such as limiting access to home firearms,” Dr. Haasz said. “It highlights a crucial messaging opportunity — that there are effective ways to decrease the risk of suicide for our youth.” 

Dr. Haasz will present her abstract titled “Colorado Caregivers’ Perceptions of Firearm Safety and Youth Suicide” from noon to 1 p.m. EDT Sunday, Sept. 29 at the Hyatt Regency Orlando’s Plaza International Ballroom. 

Other abstracts that will be presented during the conference include: 

• Black Infants With Heart Abnormalities More Likely to Die in First Year 

• Children in Foster Care With Disabilities Face Significant Challenges  

• Firearm Laws Restricting Large-capacity Magazines Effective in Reducing Child Deaths in Mass Shootings  

• Parents Open to Firearms Counseling From Doctors; Ensuring Secure Storage Remains a Challenge  

• Racial Disparities Exist in Emergency Department Treatment of Children With Unintentional Ingestions 

• Dangerous Practice ‘Chroming’ Featured in Videos on Social Media Platform Popular Among Youth 

• Children’s Emergency Department Visits for Heat-related Illnesses Increased 170% Over Past Decade 

• Naloxone Successful in Over Half of Uses in Reversing Signs of Opioid Overdose in the Prehospital Setting 

• Firearm Injuries Lead to More Complications, Greater Risk of Death and Higher Inpatient Costs Than Other Injuries 

• Racial Justice Activism, Advocacy Found to Reduce Depression and Anxiety in Some Teens 

• Period Poverty Research Finds 1 in 3 Teens Lack Access to Menstruation Products 

• Anti-bullying, Sexual Harassment Resources Increase in U.S. Schools but Gaps Remain  

• Asthma Rates Lower in Children Who Received Only Breast Milk at Birth Hospital  

• Water-absorbing Beads Pose Increasing Hazard for Young Children; Researchers Test Methods on How to Shrink Them  

• Opioid Poisoning in Children Increasing Alongside Adult Misuse 

• Low Vitamin D Levels in Pediatric Patients Linked to Slow Healing Process 

• Childhood Opioid Prescription Rates Vary by Patient’s Background, Research Finds  

• Social Media Used to Facilitate Sexual Assault in Children, Study Finds  

Full abstract details are available on the Conference Platform and app. Browse the full conference schedule at https://aapexperience24.eventscribe.net/.