Hospital-Based Virtual Reality Program to Prevent Firearm-Related Violence in Youth Ages 13 to 17

What this Trial Is About

Firearm violence is a serious public health issue in the United States, especially among youth aged 13 to 17. This research aims to evaluate an innovative hospital-based intervention called Elevate Virtual Reality VR designed to prevent firearm-related violence, injury, and death among young people. The study is conducted in Virginia, where firearm-related fatalities and hospitalizations have significantly increased, creating an urgent need for effective prevention strategies. The Elevate VR program is a brief 40-minute intervention combining positive psychology, motivational goal setting through gameplay, psychoeducation, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and dialectical behavioral therapy. Participants include youth aged 13 to 17 who were treated for intentional or unintentional injuries, as well as youth recruited from community partners and caregivers aged 18 and older. Questionnaires assessing firearm-related violence, violent crime, attitudes, risky behaviors, personality traits, and future aspirations are completed at the start and at 1 and 3 months after baseline. Participants will complete the Elevate VR intervention and various assessments during the study period, with follow-ups at 1 and 3 months to evaluate changes in firearm-related violence and related outcomes. The study measures include firearm violence assessments, violent crime evaluations, and attitudes toward firearms. This study is sponsored by Virginia Commonwealth University and aims to inform future efforts to reduce firearm-related harm among youth.

A Hospital-based Intervention for Youth Injured Through Violence