Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Melissa Osborne
Department
WCHHS – Nursing
Abstract
Firearm injuries are a leading cause of death among children and adolescents in the United States, with firearm access primarily occurring within the home (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2026). Secure firearm storage is key to preventing firearm-related injuries, yet 309 many parents lack access to education and resources that support safe storage practices. Evidence-based home visiting (EBHV) programs aim to address this issue by conducting ongoing visits and working directly with families. This study explores how parents prefer to interact with a web-based educational component of a program called Learning to Create Kid-Safe Spaces (LoCKS), a secure firearm storage module currently in development. LoCKS is intended to be delivered through EBHV programs, reaching an estimated 284,000 families annually (National Home Visiting Resource Center, 2026). This study follows a human-centered design approach and will evaluate and present findings using qualitative methods, including focus groups with parents of children ages 0–17 who have participated in EBHV or similar parenting programs. Focus group questions will center around preferences for learning information online versus in a face-to-face format, attitudes toward providing data in an online training, and potential barriers to discussing firearms with a provider. Data informing the preferred usability, content, and engagement of LoCKS will be collected. Conclusive data from this study will be used to refine the design of the LoCKS web-based educational component, ensuring that it is accessible, relevant, and effectively delivers secure firearm storage education to families.
Presented at
2026 - The Thirtieth Annual Symposium of Student Scholars
Design with Purpose: Implementing Human-Centered Design through LoCKS Focus Groups
2026 - The Thirtieth Annual Symposium of Student Scholars
Firearm injuries are a leading cause of death among children and adolescents in the United States, with firearm access primarily occurring within the home (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2026). Secure firearm storage is key to preventing firearm-related injuries, yet 309 many parents lack access to education and resources that support safe storage practices. Evidence-based home visiting (EBHV) programs aim to address this issue by conducting ongoing visits and working directly with families. This study explores how parents prefer to interact with a web-based educational component of a program called Learning to Create Kid-Safe Spaces (LoCKS), a secure firearm storage module currently in development. LoCKS is intended to be delivered through EBHV programs, reaching an estimated 284,000 families annually (National Home Visiting Resource Center, 2026). This study follows a human-centered design approach and will evaluate and present findings using qualitative methods, including focus groups with parents of children ages 0–17 who have participated in EBHV or similar parenting programs. Focus group questions will center around preferences for learning information online versus in a face-to-face format, attitudes toward providing data in an online training, and potential barriers to discussing firearms with a provider. Data informing the preferred usability, content, and engagement of LoCKS will be collected. Conclusive data from this study will be used to refine the design of the LoCKS web-based educational component, ensuring that it is accessible, relevant, and effectively delivers secure firearm storage education to families.