Survivors of firearm injuries often experience long-term physical and functional health challenges that extend beyond the initial trauma, according to Rutgers Health researchers. Their study, published in the Journal of Urban Health, examined the physical health needs, health care access and barriers to care for firearm injury survivors. The work was done in collaboration with street outreach workers from Cure4Camden, a Camden, N.J., community-based violence intervention program.
“Survivors of firearm injury often face lasting pain, disability, and difficulties navigating the health care system long after the initial trauma,” said Daniel Semenza, director of research at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center at the Rutgers School of Public Health.
Using an approach that combined quantitative survey analysis and qualitative interviews, researchers surveyed 107 firearm injury survivors and conducted in-depth interviews with 15 survivors in partnership with Cure4Camden violence interrupters. Community violence prevention specialists collaborated throughout all stages of the research. To read the full story.