Users’ views of prison health services: a qualitative study

Condon, Louise; Hek, Gill; Harris, Francesca; Powell, Jane; Kemple, Terry; Price, Sally

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04221.x

Cited by 107 publications

(87 citation statements)

References 16 publications

(24 reference statements)

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“…Our findings are consistent with those of previous studies, [8][9][10] confirming that the supply of psychiatric medicines is often interrupted for newly received prisoners. Previously published research in this area has been largely small scale and qualitative.…”

Section: Strengths and Limitationssupporting

confidence: 83%

“…It is not clear whether prescriptions were deliberately stopped for reasons not identified by this study or whether medication needs were simply overlooked. Notwithstanding, taken in the context of studies citing significant prisoner distress caused by changes to medication, [8][9][10] this finding is concerning.…”

Section: Discontinuation Of Medication On Prison Entrymentioning

confidence: 70%

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Continuity of supply of psychiatric medicines for newly received prisoners

et al. 2011

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Aims and methodA retrospective case-note review was undertaken at five English prisons between June 2008 and March 2009 to estimate the proportion of psychiatric medicines (antidepressants, antipsychotics and hypnotics/anxiolytics) reported at prison reception that are discontinued on entry to prison.ResultsOf the 1006 records sampled, the review showed that 18% of prisoners had been prescribed psychiatric medication before being placed in custody. Altogether, 240 separate psychiatric medicines were recorded among prisoners at reception. Of these, 47% were not prescribed during the first week of custody. In only 11% of cases where medication was discontinued had psychiatric assessment been completed.Clinical implicationsPrison mental health policy states that psychiatric medication should not be withdrawn in custody without proper clinical assessment. Denial of medication in the absence of clinical assessment during early custody has the potential to create additional stress in individuals during a period of increased vulnerability and risk.

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Section: Strengths and Limitationssupporting

confidence: 83%

Section: Discontinuation Of Medication On Prison Entrymentioning

confidence: 70%

Continuity of supply of psychiatric medicines for newly received prisoners

et al. 2011

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“…Por outro lado, o controle da fala e do comportamento dos detentos por lideranças e grupos informais ou mesmo a recusa por parte de alguns deles em atender a convites da equipe da pesquisa para participar evidenciaram sua descrença na possibilidade do diálogo como forma de interação com uma administração que lhes nega a escuta e lhes restringe a autonomia. Esta falta de autonomia também já foi apontada por Condon et al 34 como um dos maiores obstáculos para assegurar que as necessidades de saúde dos detentos sejam contempladas.…”

Section: Discussionunclassified

Saúde em prisões: representações e práticas dos agentes de segurança penitenciária no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Diuana¹,

Lhuilier

Sánchez³

et al. 2008

Cad. Saúde Pública

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“…Nevertheless, concerns about access to, and the quality of, prison healthcare services have been raised not only by prisoners, [21][22][23] but also by those professionals responsible for inspecting prisons. 24 These concerns were, in part, the stimulus to effect change with regard to the way in which health care is provided in prison.…”

Section: Comparison With Existing Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

Patients, prisoners, or people? Women prisoners' experiences of primary care in prison: a qualitative study

2008

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The development of primary care services within prisons has been central to improvements in the provision of health care in this setting over the past decade. Despite national imperatives to involve patients in the development of services and numerous policy initiatives, there has been no systematic evaluation of changes in the delivery of primary care and little published evidence of consultation with prisoners. AimTo explore women prisoners' experiences of primary healthcare provision in prison. Design of studyQualitative study using focus groups and interviews. SettingTwo women's prisons in southern England. MethodSix focus groups involving 37 women were conducted, as well as 12 semi-structured individual interviews. Focus groups and interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed thematically. ResultsWomen prisoners' perceptions of the quality of prison health care were mixed. There were accounts of goodquality care where practitioners were regarded as knowledgeable and respectful, but many perceived that the quality of care was poor. They complained about difficulties accessing care or medication, disrespectful treatment, and breaches of confidentiality by practitioners. They voiced the belief that staff were less qualified and competent than their counterparts in the community. ConclusionThe prison environment presents unique challenges to those providing health care, and much work has been done recently on modernising prison health care and improving professional standards of practice. However, the accounts of women prisoners in this study suggest that there is a gap between patient experience and policy aspirations. Keywordsprisoners; qualitative research; quality of health care; women. INTRODUCTIONThe development of primary care services within prisons has been central to improvements in the provision of health care in this setting.1 Since 1999 there have been a number of policies aimed at developing and improving the way in which health care is provided in prisons. Central to these developments has been the notion of 'equivalence' of care: that prisoners should have access to the same quality and range of health care as the general public receives from the NHS.2 Furthermore, a number of key initiatives have focused on the importance of primary care in delivering high-quality, effective health care to prisoners.Health professionals practising in prisons face a number of challenges; for example, professional isolation, a lack of understanding by other prison staff of the value of health care, 3 and working with a socially marginalised group of patients with considerable health needs, particularly relating to mental health and substance misuse. 4,5 Many of the issues facing these health professionals have been recognised, and there have been considerable changes to the way in which health care is delivered in prisons.Health care in prisons is now commissioned and E Plugge, MA, DPhil, MFPH, senior research scientist;

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