NCJ Number
176936
Journal
American Journal of Preventive Medicine Volume: 15 Issue: 3S Dated: October 1998 Pages: 17-30
Date Published
1998
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This paper presents an overview of Federal data systems that report national data on fatal and nonfatal firearm-related injuries and associated risk factors and behaviors.
Abstract
Fifteen Federal data systems provide useful information for national surveillance of firearm injuries in the United States. Each data system has good features as well as certain limitations, and each data system offers a different methodological approach to capture data for monitoring and characterizing firearm injuries and deaths and behavioral risks associated with unintentional and violent events. Although much progress has been made over the past decade to improve national data on firearm injuries, many gaps still remain. Therefore, a mechanism is needed to better coordinate and integrate Federal efforts to collect, analyze, and disseminate data on firearm injuries. Details are provided on the National Vital Statistics System, the National Traumatic Occupational Fatality Surveillance System, the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, the Uniform Crime Reporting System, the Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted System, the National Hospital Ambulatory Care Survey, the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, the National Crime Victimization Survey, the National Health Interview Survey, the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, and the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. An appendix contains abbreviations and contact information for national data systems. 31 references and 2 tables