Users' views of prison health services: a qualitative study.
OBJECTIVE
This paper is a report of a study of the views of prisoners about health services provided in prisons.


BACKGROUND
Prison provides an opportunity for a 'hard to reach' group to access health services, primarily those provided by nurses. Prisoners typically have high health and social needs, but the views and experiences of prisoners about health services in prison have not been widely researched.


METHODS
Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 111 prisoners in purposively selected 12 prisons in England in 2005. Interviews covered both prisoners' views of health services and their own ways of caring for their health in prison. Interviews were analysed to develop a conceptual framework and identify dominant themes.


RESULTS
Prisoners considered health services part of a personal prison journey, which began at imprisonment and ended on release. For those who did not access health services outside prison, imprisonment improved access to both mental and physical health services. Prisoners identified accessing services, including those provided by nurses, confidentiality, being seen as a 'legitimate' patient and living with a chronic condition as problems within the prison healthcare system. At all points along the prison healthcare journey, the prison regime could conflict with optimal health care.


CONCLUSIONS
Lack of autonomy is a major obstacle to ensuring that prisoners' health needs are fully met. Their views should be considered when planning, organizing and delivering prison health services. Further research is needed to examine how nurses can ensure a smooth journey through health care for prisoners.
Condon
Louise
L
Faculty of Health and Social Care, University of the West of England, Glenside, Bristol, UK. louise.condon@uwe.ac.uk
Hek
Gill
G
Harris
Francesca
F
Powell
Jane
J
Kemple
Terry
T
Price
Sally
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D011330:Prisons / Q000941:ethics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013041:Specialties, Nursing / Q000941:ethics / Q000592:standards*; D006113:United Kingdom; D000078329:Workforce