# How primary care conversations leave gaps

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/health/how-primary-care-conversations-leave-gaps/
Published: 2026-05-11

> Featured topic in Health.

About 78% saw a primary care provider in the past year, while 88% say a health care practitioner did not speak with them about secure firearm storage.

## Overview: Healthcare conversations

Primary-care contact is common, but contact alone does not mean every sensitive or practical health conversation is happening.

About 78% of adults saw a primary care provider in the past year. Yet 88% say a physician or other health care practitioner did not speak with them about secure firearm storage in the past 12 months.

## Most adults had recent primary-care contact

About 78% of adults say they saw a primary care provider in the past year.

In primary-care visits, the most common screening topics are tobacco use at 69% and alcohol use at 67%. That suggests many adults are encountering some routine screening.

## Secure firearm-storage conversations are rare

Some conversations are much less common. About 88% say no physician or other health care practitioner spoke with them about secure firearm storage in the past 12 months.

The yes responses are scattered across primary care, mental health professionals, specialists, nurses, and physician assistants, with no single setting reaching 5%.

## Adults still want care to include family and home context

Adults show broad support for including fathers in maternal care. Roughly 72% say fathers should be invited to prenatal visits and classes, and 70% say they should be included in birth planning and delivery.

For hospice care, the preference is even clearer: 72% prefer at-home care with health aid, compared with 19% who prefer a hospice facility.

## Supporting evidence

### 78% saw a primary care provider in the past year.

Question: Have you seen a primary care provider in the last year (last 12 months)?

Note: Anchors the topic in broad recent primary-care contact.

Topline:

- Yes: 78.3%
- No: 21.0%
- I don't know: 0.7%

### Tobacco and alcohol are the most common primary-care screening topics.

Question: In your last visit to your primary care clinic, did any doctor or health professional ask, either in person or on a form, if you

Note: Shows routine screening is more common for tobacco and alcohol than for other topics.

Topline:

- Smoke cigarettes or use any other tobacco products: 69.4%
- Drink alcohol: 66.6%
- Use marijuana or cannabis: 49.5%
- Feel safe at home: 43.9%
- None of the above: 20.7%

### 88% were not spoken to about secure firearm storage.

Question: In the past 12 months, has a physician or other health care practitioner spoken to you about secure firearm storage?

Note: Shows one topic that rarely comes up in care settings.

Topline:

- No: 87.8%
- Yes, by a primary care physician: 4.1%
- Yes, by a mental health professional / counselor: 2.9%
- Prefer not to respond: 2.0%
- Don’t know / Unsure: 2.0%

## Methodology

- Mode: Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
- Population: US adults age 18+
- Field dates: 2025-11-14 → 2025-11-20
- Base (unweighted): 1,000
- Margin of error: +/- 3.2%
- Module: Module 3
- Sponsor: Verasight
- Weight variable: weight
- Weighting targets: age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

## Sources

- [Have you seen a primary care provider in the last year (last 12 months)?](https://reports.verasight.io/r/verasight-apha-2025#visits-to-primary-care-provider-in-the-past-year): reports.verasight.io/r/verasight-apha-2025: Anchors the topic in broad recent primary-care contact.
- [In your last visit to your primary care clinic, did any doctor or health professional ask, either in person or on a form, if you](https://reports.verasight.io/r/verasight-apha-2025#primary-care-visit-inquiries): reports.verasight.io/r/verasight-apha-2025: Shows routine screening is more common for tobacco and alcohol than for other topics.
- [In the past 12 months, has a physician or other health care practitioner spoken to you about secure firearm storage?](https://reports.verasight.io/r/verasight-apha-2025#discussion-of-firearm-storage-with-health-care-providers): reports.verasight.io/r/verasight-apha-2025: Shows one topic that rarely comes up in care settings.
- [In your opinion, which of the following best describes how fathers should be included in health care of expecting mothers and babies?](https://reports.verasight.io/r/verasight-apha-2025#inclusion-of-fathers-in-health-care-of-expectant-mothers): reports.verasight.io/r/verasight-apha-2025: Adds a separate care-coordination preference around father inclusion.
- [If your family member or you needed hospice care would you prefer hospice care:](https://reports.verasight.io/r/verasight-apha-2025#preferences-for-hospice-care): reports.verasight.io/r/verasight-apha-2025: Adds a clear preference for home-based care when hospice is needed.

## Citation

Verasight APHA Omnibus Survey #2025-148, fielded November 14-20, 2025, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.2%.

Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/verasight-apha-2025#visits-to-primary-care-provider-in-the-past-year](https://reports.verasight.io/r/verasight-apha-2025#visits-to-primary-care-provider-in-the-past-year)