Developing and Testing the Houston Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program Aimed at Reducing Repeat Firearm Injuries in People Aged 16 to 35

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the Houston Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program Houston-HVIP to reduce repeated violent injuries and improve mental, behavioral, and physical health outcomes. This study focuses on individuals aged 16 to 35 years who have experienced violent injuries, especially firearm injuries, and aims to assess the programs effectiveness over a 12-month period through a randomized controlled trial. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups the Houston-HVIP treatment group or the Standard of Care group. The Houston-HVIP group receives support from a case manager who conducts assessments and creates personalized discharge plans, referring participants to social service programs based on their needs. They also receive a structured curriculum with regular check-ins over six months to support community reintegration. The Standard of Care group also meets with a case manager for assessments and discharge planning but receives follow-up services for only two weeks after hospital discharge. During the study, participants will be monitored at baseline and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months to track repeat violent injuries, changes in attitudes towards firearm violence, post-traumatic stress, aggression, and general health. Assessments include questionnaires and hospital records. The study uses double-blinding and randomization to ensure unbiased results, with the primary outcome being the number of repeat firearm injury hospital visits. The total follow-up period for each participant is one year.

Launching the Houston Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program (Houston-HVIP): Developing and Evaluating a Hospital-Based Intervention to Reduce Recurrent Violence