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ABSTRACT: Background
The world prison population is large and growing. Poor health outcomes after release from prison are common, but few programmes to improve health outcomes for ex-prisoners have been rigorously evaluated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of individualised case management on contact with health services during the first 6?months post-release.Methods
Single-blinded, randomised, controlled trial. Baseline assessment with N=1325 adult prisoners in Queensland, Australia, within 6?weeks of expected release; follow-up interviews 1, 3 and 6?months post-release. The intervention consisted of provision of a personalised booklet ('Passport') at the time of release, plus up to four brief telephone contacts in the first 4?weeks post-release.Results
Of 1179 eligible participants, 1003 (85%) completed ?1 follow-up interview. In intention-to-treat analyses, 53% of the intervention group and 41% of the control group reported contacting a general practitioner (GP) at 1?month post-release (difference=12%, 95% CI 5% to 19%). Similar effects were observed for GP contact at 3?months (difference=9%, 95% CI 2% to 16%) and 6?months (difference=8%, 95% CI 1% to 15%), and for mental health (MH) service contact at 6?months post release (difference=8%, 95% CI 3% to 14%).Conclusions
Individualised case management in the month after release from prison increases usage of primary care and MH services in adult ex-prisoners for at least 6?months post-release. Given the poor health profile of ex-prisoners, there remains an urgent need to develop and rigorously evaluate interventions to increase health service contact in this profoundly marginalised population.Trial registration number
ACTRN12608000232336.
SUBMITTER: Kinner SA
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4941193 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Kinner Stuart A SA Alati Rosa R Longo Marie M Spittal Matthew J MJ Boyle Frances M FM Williams Gail M GM Lennox Nicholas G NG
Journal of epidemiology and community health 20160119 7
<h4>Background</h4>The world prison population is large and growing. Poor health outcomes after release from prison are common, but few programmes to improve health outcomes for ex-prisoners have been rigorously evaluated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of individualised case management on contact with health services during the first 6 months post-release.<h4>Methods</h4>Single-blinded, randomised, controlled trial. Baseline assessment with N=1325 adult prisoners in Queensland ...[more]