Medscape poll: 65% of healthcare providers view gun violence as public threat

A majority of healthcare providers — 65 percent — said they view gun violence as a public threat, according to a poll conducted by Medscape Medical News.

Medscape polled 462 healthcare providers in the wake of the Oct. 1 mass shooting in Las Vegas.

Here are six findings:

1. Seventy-two percent of physicians and 71 percent of nurses/advanced practice nurses said gun violence is a public health threat.

2. Fifty-seven percent of respondents in the "other healthcare provider" category — including chiropractors, dietitians/nutritionists and social workers — also said gun violence is a public health threat.

3. Only 27 percent of physician respondents owned a gun, as compared to 39 percent of nurses and 32 percent of the other providers.

4. Fifty-seven percent of physicians said they felt a responsibility to discuss gun safety, however, 45 percent of physicians said they had never had those discussions.

5. Approximately 51 percent of nurses felt physicians are responsible for discussing gun safety.

6. Around 38 percent of physicians and 47 percent of nurses reported they felt "very prepared" to discuss gun safety with patients.

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