Houston Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program to prevent repeat firearm injuries
Launching the Houston-HVIP: Developing and Evaluating a Hospital-Based Intervention to Reduce Recurrent Violence
This project will test whether a hospital-based violence intervention (Houston-HVIP) can reduce repeat firearm injuries and improve mental, behavioral, and physical health over 12 months in people ages 16–35 treated for gunshot wounds.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 274 (estimated) |
| Ages | 16 Years to 35 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Houston, Texas) |
| Trial ID | NCT06263647 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This randomized controlled trial will enroll patients aged 16–35 who present to Memorial Hermann Hospital with gunshot injuries from community violence and who live in Harris County. Participants who consent and speak English or Spanish will be randomly assigned to receive the Houston-HVIP intervention or standard of care. The study will track violent reinjury and a range of behavioral, mental health, and physical recovery outcomes over a 12-month follow-up. Exclusions include self-inflicted or unintentional firearm injuries and patients actively detained by the criminal justice system at enrollment.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are English- or Spanish-speaking people aged 16–35 who live in Harris County and present to Memorial Hermann Hospital with a gunshot injury from community violence and can give voluntary consent.
Not a fit: Patients whose injuries were self-inflicted or accidental, those who are actively detained, or people who do not live in Harris County or cannot consent are unlikely to qualify or benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could lower the chance of repeat firearm injury and support better mental and physical recovery after a violent injury.
How similar studies have performed: Similar hospital-based violence intervention programs have shown promising reductions in repeat injury and related harms in several prior trials, although results vary by setting.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * presented for a gunshot injury stemming from community violence at Memorial Hermann Hospital * English or Spanish-speaking * provide informed voluntary consent to participate in the study * live in Harris County at time of enrollment Exclusion Criteria: * presenting for a firearm injury arising from a self-inflicted gunshot or unintentional gun violence * actively detained by criminal justice systems at time of enrollment
Where this trial is running
Houston, Texas
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston — Houston, Texas, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Sandra McKay, MD — The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
- Study coordinator: Sandra McKay, MD
- Email: Sandra.McKay@uth.tmc.edu
- Phone: (713) 500-5666
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.