ABSTRACT
CONTEXT: Despite the wide availability of guns in the United States, not all delinquent adolescents own guns and not all adolescent gun owners carry them at all times. Research about the factors that prevent high-risk youth from acquiring and carrying guns is limited. OBJECTIVE: To determine, from the perspective of incarcerated adolescent males, factors that prevent acquiring or carrying guns, either on a temporary or permanent basis. DESIGN AND SETTING: In-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with randomly selected incarcerated adolescent males at a residential juvenile justice facility from January to May 1998. Transcribed interviews were examined for recurrent themes. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-five incarcerated adolescent males. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Reported factors limiting gun acquisition and carrying. RESULTS: Seventy-one percent of the sample had either owned or carried a gun out of their home. We identified 6 recurring themes that, at least on occasion, prevented or delayed delinquent youth from acquiring or carrying guns. The most commonly cited factors were fear of being arrested and incarcerated and lack of perceived need for a gun. Other themes included not wanting to hurt oneself or others, respect for the opinions of others, inability to find a source for a desired gun, and lack of money to acquire a desired gun. CONCLUSIONS: We identified 6 factors that limited gun acquisition and carrying among a sample of incarcerated male adolescents. Knowledge of these factors should inform intervention efforts to reduce youth gun acquisition and carrying.
Subject(s)
Adolescent Behavior , Firearms/statistics & numerical data , Prisoners/psychology , Psychology, Adolescent , Adolescent , Black or African American , Data Collection , Fear , Humans , Male , Maryland , White PeopleABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To better understand the determinants of adolescents' satisfaction with their health care providers and to examine the relationship among satisfaction, intention to return for follow-up, and appointment-keeping behavior. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-four adolescent patients attending a university-based general adolescent medicine clinic were surveyed prior to the visit about their attitudes regarding provider behavior. After the visit, subjects completed a questionnaire on provider behavior during the visit, satisfaction with the visit, and intention to keep their follow-up appointment. RESULTS: Multivariate regression analysis revealed that pre-visit attitudes about providers' style of behavior predicted satisfaction (beta = 0.252; p < 0.01). After controlling for pre-visit attitudes, perceptions about providers' style of behavior proved to be a strong predictor of visit satisfaction (beta = 0.512; p < 0.01). Visit satisfaction was associated with intention to keep scheduled follow-up appointments (r = 0.327; p < 0.01). However, subjects with greater intention to return were not more likely to keep their follow-up appointments. CONCLUSION: Provider behavior is an important determinant of adolescents' satisfaction with their health care.
Subject(s)
Adolescent Behavior , Appointments and Schedules , Patient Compliance , Patient Satisfaction , Adolescent , Adolescent Health Services , Adult , Attitude to Health , Child , Female , Health Behavior , Health Care Surveys , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
Firearm-related injuries are the second leading cause of death in youth. A product-oriented approach, focusing on the gun, may be an efficient and effective strategy to reduce firearm-related injuries and death. Such an approach includes decreasing the number of guns in the environment and modifying the gun to reduce it potential for harm. As with efforts to reduce childhood injuries from motor vehicle crashes and poisonings, pediatric health professionals can assume a leadership role in preventing firearm-related injuries and death in youth.
Subject(s)
Firearms , Violence , Adolescent , Child , Humans , Legislation as Topic , United StatesABSTRACT
Little is known about the qualifications and motives of pediatricians who provide expert witness testimony. Pediatricians in Pennsylvania were surveyed anonymously to learn more about this practice. Two hundred fifty-five (49%) of 520 pediatricians responded, and 126 of these physicians had provided expert testimony at some time. Fully affiliated medical school faculty members were more likely to act as expert witnesses than were other pediatricians. Seventy-seven (61%) did so to defend a fellow physician. Only eight (6%) were listed with an organization that provides expert witnesses. Pediatricians were selective about their involvement as expert witnesses, and 96 (76%) had refused to give testimony at some time. Most were paid an hourly rate, which was in keeping with charges for medical consultation or lecturing. More than 80% of respondents were unhappy with the present system of procuring expert witnesses.
