National Prisons Hepatitis Education Project: Research Evaluation

Summary

The National Prisons Hepatitis Education Program (HepPEd Program) is a national, prison-based hepatitis C health literacy education program for healthcare providers, correctional officers, and people in prison. The HepPEd Program aims to improve the public health literacy of the prison sector regarding hepatitis C in prisons. The HepPEd: Research Evaluation aims to evaluate the impact of the HepPEd Program on HCV testing and treatment uptake amongst people incarcerated in Australian prisons, as well as changes in knowledge, attitudes, and capabilities of healthcare providers, correctional officers, and people in prison. The study is a controlled before and after study being conducted in 3-6 correctional centres in Australia.

Eligibility

All healthcare providers, correctional officers, and people in prison at the participating prison sites are anticipated to be exposed to the various HepPEd Program resources during the 3 month education intervention phase.

Participating prison sites must meet the following inclusion criteria to be eligible to participate in the study. Participating prison sites must have:

* a prisoner population of 400-600 inmates (assumed mean 500); and
* an existing prison-based hepatitis service undertaking both HCV testing and treatment.

Prisoners must meet the following inclusion criteria to be eligible to participate as peer educators. Prisoners must:

* be currently incarcerated in a participating correctional centre;
* anticipate being in the participating correctional centre for \>12 months;
* be considered as capable and willing, and well-respected amongst their peers; and
* have approval from custodial authorities to participate as a peer educator.

Correctional officers must meet the following inclusion criteria to be eligible to participate as peer champions. Correctional officers must:

* be currently working in a participating correctional centre; and
* be considered as capable and willing, and well-respected amongst their peers.

Prisoners must meet the following inclusion criteria to be eligible to participate in the interview-style survey and dried blood spot (DBS) testing component:

1. be over the age of 18 years;
2. be currently incarcerated in a participating correctional centre;
3. have sufficient English comprehension skills to understand the survey questions; and
4. be willing and able to provide written informed consent.

Healthcare providers and correctional officers must meet the following inclusion criteria to be eligible to participate in the survey component:

1\) be currently working in a participating correctional centre.

Conditions2

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