Kronfli, Nadine and Lafferty, Lise and Leone, Frederic and Stoove, Mark and Hajarizadeh, Behzad and Lloyd, Andrew R. and Altice, Frederick L. (2024) Using nominal group technique to identify perceived barriers and facilitators to improving uptake of the Prison Needle Exchange Program in Canadian federal prisons by correctional officers and healthcare workers. International Journal of Drug Policy, 130. p. 104540. ISSN 0955-3959, DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104540.
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
Background: Elimination of bloodborne viruses including HIV and hepatitis C virus from prisons requires high coverage of evidence-based interventions that prevent bloodborne virus transmission, including needle and syringe programs. Canada launched a Prison Needle Exchange Program (PNEP) in nine federal prisons in 2018; however, uptake among people who inject drugs in prison remains low. We aimed to explore barriers and facilitators to improving PNEP uptake identified by correctional officers and healthcare workers. Methods: Participants from nine federal prisons with PNEP completed focus groups using nominal group technique, a rapid mixed-method consensus strategy. Responses were generated, rank-ordered, and prioritized by each stakeholder group. We identified the highest-ranking responses (>= 10 % of the overall votes) to questions about barriers and facilitators to PNEP uptake. Results: Between September 2023 and February 2024, 16 focus groups were conducted with 118 participants (n = 51 correctional officers; n = 67 healthcare workers). Among correctional officers, the top perceived barriers were bullying from peers (22 %), fear of being targeted by correctional officers (14 %), and fear of repercussions due to drug use (13 %). The top facilitators were safe injection sites (30 %), provision of wrap-around services (16 %), and education of correctional officers (10 %). Among healthcare workers, the top perceived barriers were lack of confidentiality (16 %), fear of being targeted by correctional officers (12 %), and a long and complex application process (11 %). The top facilitators were education of correctional officers (29 %), delivery of PNEP by an external provider (15 %), automatic approval for participation in the PNEP (13 %), and safe injection sites (12 %). Conclusion: Multiple modifiable barriers and solutions to improving PNEP uptake in Canadian federal prisons were identified by correctional employees. Both participant groups identified the potential for safe injection sites and education to correctional officers as enabling PNEP uptake. These data will inform Canadian efforts to improve engagement and to expand PNEP coverage.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Funders: | Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) (190374) ; (185725), Fonds de recherche du Quebec (FRQ) Fonds de recherche du Quebec - Sante (FRQS), Australian National Medical Research Council |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Prison; Needle exchange program; Correctional officers; Health care; Nominal group technique; Barrier; Facilitator; Implementation science |
| Subjects: | R Medicine > R Medicine (General) |
| Divisions: | Centre of Excellence for Research in AIDS (CERiA) |
| Depositing User: | Ms. Juhaida Abd Rahim |
| Date Deposited: | 27 Mar 2025 08:12 |
| Last Modified: | 27 Mar 2025 08:12 |
| URI: | http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/46768 |
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