Military spouse and key stakeholder perspectives of effective messaging for US service members on secure storage of personal firearms: a qualitative study

Background Secure firearm storage is a proposed method for reducing intentional and unintentional firearm injury and death among US military service members. However, little is known about suggested key messengers and optimal message content to promote secure firearm storage practices among at-risk US service members. This qualitative study focused on military spouse and stakeholder perspectives concerning key messengers and message content for the delivery of effective messaging around promoting secure firearm storage practices among US service members. Methods Military spouses and stakeholders of military support organisations were recruited at various military installations in the USA and completed either individual or group qualitative interviews via Zoom consisting of open-ended questions on perspectives of effective messaging for secure firearm storage for at-risk service members. Qualitative analysis included comprehensive memoing, regularly scheduled team meetings and triangulation of data with established literature. Results 56 participants were interviewed between August 2022 and March 2023. Participants identified key messengers for promoting secure firearm storage as peers, chaplains, clinicians or a combination. Perspectives on preferred message content for the promotion of secure firearm storage consisted of focusing on lived experience, personal anecdotes and relatable stories. Discussion and conclusions Extant research has focused exclusively on firearm owners’ perspectives of effective messaging for the promotion of secure firearm storage practices. This study highlights the important contributions of military spouses and stakeholder perspectives on who are credible messengers and what is the most effective message content to promote a perspective shift on how firearms are stored among military firearm owners.