Search

Introduction: Problem‐solving skills (PSS) help to provide a systematic approach to dealing with and managing complex problems. The overall aim of this study was to assess the acceptability and feasibility of developing and adapting a prison‐based PSS workbook for adults within a medium‐ and low‐secure hospital. Method: We used the Medical Research Council framework in our participatory mixed methods study incorporating an adapted survey (to identify what types of problems people experience in secure hospitals), a series of three interactive workshops (to co‐produce two case study examples for a workbook) and we gathered feedback from patients and hospital staff on the acceptability and feasibility of the workbook. Data from the survey were used to inform the case study examples, and the feedback from patients and hospital staff was descriptively summarised and the results consolidated. Results: In total, 82 (51%) patients took part in the survey; 22 patients and 49 hospital staff provided feedback on the workbook. The survey results indicated that patients regularly experience problems while in the hospital. Patients reported problems relating to restrictions of freedom and boredom. The workshops produced two case studies for the workbooks, with mainly positive patient and staff feedback. More work is required to improve the visual representation of the characters in the case studies, the amount and content of the language and the mechanism of the intervention delivery. Conclusion: The adaptation process proved acceptable and feasible to both patients and staff. The co‐production methodology for the workbook and feedback from patients and staff was an effective way of iteratively refining the materials to ensure that they were both meaningful and acceptable to staff and patients. Subsequent work is required to develop the workbook and evaluate the feasibility of the intervention delivery, recruitment rates, uptake and adherence to the PSS using a randomised controlled trial. Patient or Public Contribution: At each stage of the project consultation with patients and/or hospital staff was involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PAMHOP (The Physical And Mental Health of Older Prisoners) is an inter- and transdisciplinary project funded by the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The project has two principal aims: to better understand the physical and common mental health needs of older people within the criminal justice system; and to assess the implementation of some novel tailored interventions that might benefit this community and shape policy, thus reducing costs for the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). One intervention was a historic environment project that involved map-based landscape regression, and historic building recording work. This paper describes this intervention and assesses its impacts, including those related to policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights from the article: Many of those who self-harm are based in prisons where rates of self-harm and eventual suicide far exceed the rate within the general population (Fazel et al., [4]). Predictive validity is central to the debate about whether someone will fare better as a result of screening in terms of ultimate outcome (i.e., reduced number of self-harm incidents or attempted suicide) than someone who has not been screened.