Purpose
Since 2020, firearm-related injuries have surpassed motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of death among children and adolescents in the United States. Firearm access and ownership are linked to increased preventable deaths from suicide, homicide, and accidents. Healthcare professionals are uniquely positioned to implement evidence-based interventions to reduce firearm-related injuries. This study aims to review the literature that evaluates the relative effectiveness of healthcare-based interventions targeting pediatric firearm injury prevention, emphasizing the role of education in informing best practices and identifying knowledge gaps for further research.

Methods
Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a systematic search of PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Sociological Abstracts was conducted for English-language articles published since 2014. Keywords and controlled vocabulary terms related to pediatric firearm-related injuries and interventions were used. Only original qualitative and quantitative research articles were included. Data extraction was conducted using Elicit, an AI-based research tool, and reviewed for accuracy.

Results
From 1,838 screened studies, 60 full-text articles were reviewed, and 15 studies were included in the final synthesis. Most interventions focused on safe storage education (n=5) and counseling practices (n=6) in emergency department settings. Studies on safe storage interventions demonstrated higher effectiveness, with notable improvements in patient knowledge. Additional interventions included discussing firearm safety during routine pediatric clinic visits using electronic modules or pamphlets (n=4). The included studies comprised randomized controlled trials (n=8), prospective studies (n=3), retrospective studies (n=2), and observational studies (n=2).

Conclusions
Healthcare providers can help prevent firearm-related injuries in pediatric populations by integrating evidence-based interventions, like safe storage education, into routine care. Research gaps include assessing long-term effects of such interventions on patient health and education as an adult, as well as instituting real-world protocols whilst mitigating implementation barriers (e.g., electronic or financial). Scaling these practices in pediatric care could reduce preventable injuries through defined educational tools.