Emergency room intervention pairs smartphone and telehealth counseling to reduce risky firearm behavior
Among U.S. teens and young adults, firearm violence accounts for about 65,000 emergency department visits annually, and 60% of all firearm deaths in this age group result from interpersonal violence.
A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics reveals that a smartphone-based telehealth program significantly reduces risky firearm behavior among young adults and teens. The program, called IntERact, combines behavioral counseling with digital therapeutic tools delivered through a mobile app. Conducted at the University of Michigan's Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention, the study enrolled nearly 400 emergency department patients aged 16 to 30 who had carried a firearm within the past three months.
Over six months, patients who received IntERact experienced a 57% reduction in risky firearm behaviors compared to those who received standard care. The intervention also resulted in fewer violent incidents, injuries, substance misuse, and mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. The program consists of three telehealth sessions offering counseling and care management, along with daily automated assessments, personalized therapy content, GPS notifications for high-risk locations, and local resource information.
IntERact's findings suggest that digitally enhanced programs can alleviate the strain on emergency departments and provide crucial support to at-risk youth outside clinical settings, such as schools, community centers, and criminal justice programs. Researchers emphasize the need to adapt these evidence-based tools to address the ongoing crisis of firearm violence among young people.
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