title: Effectiveness of a voluntary nutrition education workshop in a state prison.
abstract: Improved nutrition has implications for both prisoners and the penal system. This study evaluated a pilot intervention to improve nutrition in prisoners. Residents of a correctional substance abuse program (SAP) completed a health risk appraisal (HRA) upon entering the SAP and at completion. Nineteen participants in a pilot nutrition workshop were matched with 37 nonparticipant controls. Analysis of changes in HRA responses relating to nutrition, general health, and social ties found that a significantly greater proportion of participants than controls reported improved nutrition practices (23.5% vs. 3.2%, p = .047). Participants were 4 times more likely to report improved general health than controls (52.6% vs. 13.9%, p = .002). A smaller proportion of participants than controls reported improved social ties (10.5% vs. 30.6%, p = .18). This study suggests that inmate participants and the penal system may benefit from nutrition workshops. Further investigation should involve a larger study population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA. philip.curd@uky.edu
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Curd
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohlmann
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bush
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007629:Kentucky; D008297:Male; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education*; D011329:Prisoners; D011330:Prisons / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome