Improving Knowledge, Attitudes, and Testing for Communicable Diseases Among New York States Inmates

• NCJ Number: 224767
• Journal: Journal of Correctional Health Care Volume: 14 Issue: 4 Dated: October 2008 Pages: 290-298
• Author(s): Douglas G. Fish M.D.; Sarah J. Walker M.S.; Kumara Singaravelu MBBS, MPH; Robert Fiore R.N.; Linda Klopf B.S.N., MS.Ed.; Minda J. HubbardMSN, ANP-C; Abigail Gallucci; Punkin Clay Stephens P.A., MPhil; Lester N. Wright M.D., MPH
• Date Published: October 2008
• Length: 9 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Results are presented from a study evaluating whether a videotape and accompanying pamphlet to improve knowledge of and encourage testing for HIV, hepatitis, and sexually transmitted diseases among inmates would increase the number of inmates who requested and received testing for infectious diseases and whether knowledge transfer was successful.

Abstract

Study results suggest that educational videotapes using a peer model supplemented with pamphlets are potentially useful tools to improve knowledge, information retention, attitudes, and requests for testing for communicable diseases among prison inmates. Study results also suggest a high level of satisfaction among inmates receiving education using this model. Further studies on the evaluation of the educational videotape and pamphlet are recommended. To improve knowledge of and encourage testing for HIV, hepatitis, and sexually transmitted diseases among inmates, Albany Medical College and the New York State Department of Corrections developed a peer-led videotape and comic-book style pamphlet. In an evaluative study, inmates assigned to an intervention group viewed the videotape and pamphlet and completed pre- and post-test questionnaires; a control group did not. The evaluation sought to detect testing request differences between groups and changes in disease knowledge among intervention group participants. Tables and references