Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

A systematic review of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of peer education and peer support in prisons

Authors: Anne-Marie Bagnall, Jane South, Claire Hulme, James Woodall, Karen Vinall-Collier, Gary Raine, Karina Kinsella, Rachael Dixey, Linda Harris, Nat MJ Wright

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2015

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Prisoners experience significantly worse health than the general population. This review examines the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of peer interventions in prison settings.

Methods

A mixed methods systematic review of effectiveness and cost-effectiveness studies, including qualitative and quantitative synthesis was conducted. In addition to grey literature identified and searches of websites, nineteen electronic databases were searched from 1985 to 2012.
Study selection criteria were:
Population: Prisoners resident in adult prisons and children resident in Young Offender Institutions (YOIs).
Intervention: Peer-based interventions.
Comparators: Review questions 3 and 4 compared peer and professionally led approaches.
Outcomes: Prisoner health or determinants of health; organisational/process outcomes; views of prison populations.
Study designs: Quantitative, qualitative and mixed method evaluations.

Results

Fifty-seven studies were included in the effectiveness review and one study in the cost-effectiveness review; most were of poor methodological quality. Evidence suggested that peer education interventions are effective at reducing risky behaviours, and that peer support services are acceptable within the prison environment and have a positive effect on recipients, practically or emotionally. Consistent evidence from many, predominantly qualitative, studies, suggested that being a peer deliverer was associated with positive effects. There was little evidence on cost-effectiveness of peer-based interventions.

Conclusions

There is consistent evidence from a large number of studies that being a peer worker is associated with positive health; peer support services are also an acceptable source of help within the prison environment and can have a positive effect on recipients. Research into cost-effectiveness is sparse.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO ref: CRD42012002349.
Literature
1.
Rennie C, Senior J, Shaw J. The future is offender health: evidencing mainstream health services throughout the offender pathway. Crim Behav Ment Health. 2009;19:1–8.CrossRefPubMed
2.
Senior J, Shaw J. Prison healthcare. In: Jewkes Y, editor. Handbook on prisons. Cullompton: Willan Publishing; 2007. p. 377–98.
3.
Department of Health. Choosing health. Making healthier choices easier. London: The Stationary Office; 2004. Cm 6732.
4.
Social Exclusion Unit. Reducing re-offending by ex-prisoners. London: Crown; 2002.
5.
Ministry of Justice. Population and capacity briefing for 6th December, 2013. London: Ministry of Justice; 2013.
6.
Walmsley R. World prison population list (9th edn). London: International Centre for Prison Studies; 2011.
7.
8.
Walmsley R. World prison population list (10th edn). London: International Centre for Prison Studies; 2013.
9.
Fazel S, Danesh J. Serious mental disorder in 23,000 prisoners: a systematic review of 62 surveys. Lancet. 2002;359(9306):545–50.CrossRefPubMed
10.
Watson R, Stimpson A, Hostick T. Prison health care: a review of the literature. Int J Nurs Stud. 2004;41(2):119–28.CrossRefPubMed
11.
Liebling A. Prison suicide and its prevention. In: Jewkes Y, editor. Handbook on prisons. Cullompton: Willan Publishing; 2007. p. 423–46.
12.
MacAskill S, Hayton P. Stop smoking support in HM prisons: the impact of nicotine replacement therapy. Stirling: University of Stirling and Open University; 2007.
13.
Stewart D. The problems and needs of newly sentenced prisoners: results from a national survey. London: Ministry of Justice; 2008.
14.
Harris F, Hek G, Condon L. Health needs of prisoners in England and Wales: the implications for prison healthcare of gender, age and ethnicity. Health Soc Care Community. 2007;15:56–66.PubMed
15.
England NHS. National Partnership Agreement Between: The National Offender Management Service, NHS England and Public Health England for the Co-Commissioning and Delivery of Healthcare Services in Prisons in England. London: NHS England; 2013.
16.
Department of Health. Inclusion Health: Improving the way we meet the primary health care needs of the socially excluded. London: Department of Health; 2010.
17.
18.
Patel L. The Patel report: Reducing drug-related crime and rehabilitating offenders. London: Prison Drug Treatment Strategy Review Group; 2010.
19.
Levenson J, Farrant F. Unlocking potential: active citizenship and volunteering by prisoners. Probation J. 2002;49(3):195–204.CrossRef
20.
Snow L, Biggar K. The role of peer support in reducing self-harm in prisons. In: Dear GE, editor. Preventing suicide and other self-harm in prison. New York: Palgrave; 2006. p. 153–66.
21.
Zack B, Bancroft C, Blea L, Comfort M, Grossman N, OG. Collaborative research to prevent HIV among male prison inmates and their female partners. Science to Community, Prevention no. 7, revised December 2004, p. 1–4.
22.
Devilly GJ, Sorbello L, Eccleston L, Ward T. Prison-based peer-education schemes. Aggress Violent Behav. 2005;10(2):219–40.CrossRef
23.
Edgar K, Jacobson J, Biggar K. Time Well Spent: A practical guide to active citizenship and volunteering in prison. Prison Reform Trust: Prison Reform Trust London; 2011.
24.
Daigle MS, Daniel AE, Dear GE, Frottier P, Hayes LM, Kerkhof A, et al. Preventing suicide in prisons, part II - International comparisons of suicide prevention services in correctional facilities. Crisis. 2007;28(3):122–30.CrossRefPubMed
25.
Grinstead OA, Zack B, Faigeles B, Grossman N, Blea L. Reducing postrelease HIV risk among male prison inmates - A peer-led intervention. Crim Justice Behav. 1999;26(4):453–65.CrossRef
26.
Sirdifield C, Bevan L, Calverley M, Mitchell L, Craven J, Brooker C. A guide to implementing the new futures health trainer role across the criminal justice system. University of Lincoln: Lincoln; 2007.
27.
Dolan KA, Bijl M, White B. HIV education in a Siberian prison colony for drug dependent males. Int J Equity Health. 2004;3(7):3–7.
28.
Vaz RG, Gloyd S, Trindade R. The effects of peer education on STD and AIDS knowledge among prisoners in Mozambique. Int J STD AIDS. 1996;7(1):51–4.CrossRefPubMed
29.
Chen G. Social support, spiritual program, and addiction recovery. Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol. 2006;50(3):306–23.CrossRefPubMed
30.
Woodall J, Dixey R. Advancing the health promoting prison: a call for global action. Global Health Promotion (In Press). 2015;ISSN 1757–9759.
31.
Wright N, Bleakley A, Butt C, Chadwick O, Mahmood K, Patel K, et al. Peer health promotion in prisons: a systematic review. Int J Prison Health. 2011;7(4):37–51.CrossRefPubMed
32.
Davies B. The Swansea Listener Scheme: views from the prison landings. Howard J Crim Justice. 1994;33(2):125–35.CrossRef
33.
South J, Raine G, White J. Community Health Champions: Evidence Review. Leeds: Centre for Health Promotion Research, Leeds Metropolitan University; 2010.
34.
Lewin SA, Babigumira SM, Bosch-Capblanch X, Aja G, van Wyk B, Glenton C, et al. Lay health workers in primary and community care: a systematic review of trials. London: London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine; 2006.
35.
Service NOM. Discussion Document. NOMS Commissioning Intentions 2012–13. Version 2. London: Ministry of Justice; 2012.
36.
37.
Snow L. The role of formalised peer group support in prisons. In: Towl G, Snow L, McHugh M, editors. Suicide in prisons. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers; 2002.
38.
Emmons K, Puleo E, Park E, Gritz E, Butterfield R, Weeks J, et al. Peer-delivered smoking counseling for childhood cancer survivors increases rate of cessation: the partnership for health study. J Clin Oncol. 2005;23(27):6516–23.CrossRefPubMed
39.
Miller T, Zaloshnja E, Spicer R. Effectiveness and benefit-cost of peer-based workplace substance abuse prevention coupled with random testing. Accid Anal Prev. 2007;39(3):565–73.CrossRefPubMed
40.
Stant A, Castelein S, Bruggeman R, van Busschbach J, van der Gaag M, Knegtering H, et al. Economic aspects of peer support groups for psychosis. Community Ment Health J. 2011;47(1):99–105.CrossRefPubMed
41.
South J, Bagnall A, Hulme C, Woodall J, Longo R, Dixey R, et al. A systematic review of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of peer-based interventions to maintain and improve offender health in prison settings. Health Serv Deliv Res. 2014;2(35).
42.
Centre for Reviews Dissemination. Systematic Reviews. CRD’s guidance for undertaking reviews in health care. York: University of York; 2009.
43.
44.
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Methods for the development of NICE public health guidance (second edition). London: National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence; 2009.
45.
South J, Meah A, Bagnall A-M, Kinsella K, Branney P, White J, et al. People in Public Health - a study of approaches to develop and support people in public health roles. London: NIHR Service Delivery and Organisation Programme; 2010.
46.
Thomas J, Harden A. Methods for the thematic synthesis of qualitative research in systematic reviews. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2008;8(45):1–10.
47.
Seale C, Silverman D. Ensuring rigour in qualitative research. Eur J Public Health. 1997;7(4):379–84.CrossRef
48.
Thomas J, Harden A, Oakley A, Oliver S, Sutcliffe K, Rees R, et al. Integrating qualitative research with trials in systematic reviews: an example from public health. Br Med J. 2004;328:1010–2.CrossRef
49.
Rees R, Oliver K, Woodman J, Thomas J. Children’s views about obesity, body size, shape and weight: a systematic review. London: EPPI Centre, Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London; 2009.
50.
Drummond M, Sculpher M, Torrance G, O'Brien B, Stoddart G. Methods for the economic evaluation of health care programmes. 3rd edition 2005.
51.
Ramsey S, Willke R, Briggs A, Brown R, Buxton M, Chawla A, et al. Good research practices for cost-effectiveness analysis alongside clinical trials: the ISPOR RCT-CEA Task Force report. Value Health. 2005;8(5):521–33.CrossRefPubMed
52.
53.
Boothby MRK. Insiders' Views of their Role: Toward their Training. Canadian J Criminol Crim Justice. 2011;53(4):424–48.CrossRef
54.
Brooker S. New futures Health trainers: an impact assessment. Lincoln: University of Lincoln; 2007.
55.
Collica K. Surviving incarceration: Two prison-based peer programs build communities of support for female offenders. Deviant Behav. 2010;31(4):314–47.CrossRef
56.
Foster J. Peer support in prison health care. An investigation into the Listening scheme in one adult male prison. School of health & social care, University of Greenwich, 2011 Sept-Dec 2011. Report No.
57.
Hunter G, Boyce I. Preparing for employment: prisoners' experience of participating in a prison training programme. Howard J Crim Justice. 2009;48:117–31.CrossRef
58.
Blanchette K, Eljdupovic-Guzina G. Results of a Pilot Study of the Peer Support Program for Women Offenders. Canada: Correctional Service of Canada; 1998.
59.
Boyce I, Hunter G, Hough M. Peer advice project. An evaluation. London: St Giles Trust, King's College; 2009.
60.
Bryan A, Robbins RN, Ruiz MS, O'Neill D. Effectiveness of an HIV Prevention Intervention in Prison Among African Americans, Hispanics, and Caucasians. Health Educ Behav. 2006;33(2):154–77.CrossRefPubMed
61.
Dhaliwal R, Harrower J. Reducing prisoner vulnerability and providing a means of empowerment: evaluating the impact of a listener scheme on the listeners. Br J Forensic Pract. 2009;11(3):35–43.CrossRef
62.
Jacobson J, Edgar K, Loucks N. There when you need them most: Pact's first night in custody services. London: Prison Reform Trust; 2008.
63.
Martin SS, O'Connell DJ, Inciardi JA, Surratt HL, Maiden KM. Integrating an HIV/HCV brief intervention in prisoner reentry: results of a multisite prospective study. J Psychoactive Drugs. 2008;40(4):427–36.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
64.
Maull FW. Hospice care for prisoners: establishing an inmate-staffed hospice program in a prison medical facility. Hospice J. 1991;7(3):43–55.CrossRef
65.
Munoz-Plaza CE, Strauss SM, Astone JM, Des Jarlais DC, Hagan H. Hepatitis C Service Delivery in Prisons: Peer Education From the "Guys in Blue.". J Correct Health Care. 2005;11(4):347–68.CrossRef
66.
Ross MW, Harzke AJ, Scott DP, McCann K, Kelley M. Outcomes of Project Wall Talk: an HIV/AIDS peer education program implemented within the Texas State Prison system. AIDS Educ Prev. 2006;18(6):504–17.CrossRefPubMed
67.
Schinkel W. Routes out of prison using life coaches to assist resettlement. Howard J Crim Justice. 2012;4(51):359–71.CrossRef
68.
Scott DP, Harzke AJ, Mizwa MB, Pugh M, Ross MW. Evaluation of an HIV Peer Education Program in Texas Prisons. J Correct Health Care. 2004;10(2):151–73.CrossRef
69.
Sifunda S, Reddy PS, Braithwaite R, Stephens T, Bhengu S, Ruiter RA, et al. The effectiveness of a peer-led HIV/AIDS and STI health education intervention for prison inmates in South Africa. Health Educ Behav. 2008;35(4):494–508.CrossRefPubMed
70.
Sirdifield C. Piloting a new role in mental health – prison based health trainers. J Mental Health Workforce Dev. 2006;1(4):15–22.
71.
Walrath C. Evaluation of an Inmate-Run Alternatives to Violence Project: The Impact of Inmate-to Inmate Intervention. J Interpers Violence. 2001;16(7):697–711.CrossRef
72.
Wright KN, Bronstein L. Creating decent prisons: a serendipitous finding about prison hospice. J Offender Rehabil. 2007;44(4):1–16.CrossRef
73.
74.
75.
Ashton C. Healing from the inside: an analysis of correctional service of Canada's circle of knowledge Keepers Program. 2010.
76.
Betts-Symond G. Community based health and first aid in Action in Irish Red Cross Prisoners. 3 Year Evaluation. Dublin: Irish Prison Service; 2011.
77.
Cichowlas JA, Chen Y-J. Volunteer prisoners provide hospice to dying inmates. Ann Health Law. 2010;19(1 Spec No):127–32.PubMed
78.
Collica K. The prevalence of HIV peer programming in American prisons: An opportunity wasted. J Correct Health Care. 2007;13(4):278–88.CrossRef
79.
Correctional Service of Canada. Opening the window on a very dark day: A program evaluation of the Peer Support Team in the Kingston Prison for women. 2009.
80.
81.
Eamon KC, McLaren DL, Munchua MM, Tsutsumi LM. The Peer support program at Edmonton Institution for women. Forum. 2012;11(3):28–30.
82.
Farrin J. Prisoner Peer Support Program. (PowerPoint presentation). Adelaide: South Australian Department for Correctinal Services; n.d. (No URL details are available at present, but source material is available from the corresponding author on request).
83.
Goldstein EH, Warner-Robbins C, McClean C, Macatula L, Conklin R. A peer-driven mentoring case management community reentry model: an application for jails and prisons. Fam Community Health. 2009;32(4):309–13.CrossRefPubMed
84.
Grinstead O, Faigeles B, Zack B. The effectiveness of peer HIV education for male inmates entering state prison. J Health Educ. 1997;28(6):31–7.CrossRef
85.
Hoover J, Jurgens R. Harm reduction in prison: The Moldova Model. New York, NY: Open Society Institute; 2009.
86.
Junker G, Beeler A, Bates J. Using Trained Inmate Observers for Suicide Watch in a Federal Correctional Setting: A Win-Win Solution. Psychol Serv. 2005;2(1):20–7.CrossRef
87.
MacGowan R, Eldridge G, Sosman JM, Khan R, Flanigan T, Zack B, et al. HIV Counseling and Testing of Young Men in Prison. J Correct Health Care. 2006;12(3):203–13.CrossRef
88.
O’Hagan S. West Midlands Reading Network Pilot 2008–2010. London: Shannon Trust; 2011.
89.
90.
Penn State Erie. Final report of the process evaluation of the Long Distance Dads Program. 2001.
91.
Player E, Martin C. ADT (Addictive Diseases Trust) Drug Treatment Programme at HMP Downview: A Preliminary Evaluation. London: Home Office; 1996.
92.
Richman J. Listeners: inmate care workers and suicide policies in HM prisons. N2N: Nurse2Nurse. 2004;4(3):18–21.
93.
Schlapman N, Cass PS. Project: HIV prevention for incarcerated youth in Indiana. J Community Health Nurs. 2000;17(3):151–8.CrossRefPubMed
94.
Stewart W. Evaluating peer social care training in prisons. Prison Serv J. 2011;195:43–6.
95.
Syed, Blanchette. Results of an evaluation of the peer support program at Grand Valley Institution for women. Correctional Service of Canada, 2000.
96.
Syed F, Blanchette K. Results of an evaluation of the peer support program at Joliette Institution for women. Correctional Service of Canada. 2000.
97.
Taylor S. New South Wales Prison HIV Peer Education Program. Sydney: Department of Corrective Services Australia; 1994.
98.
Zucker D. Hepatitis C prevention in a county correctional facility. Gastroenterol Nurs. 2006;29(2):173.CrossRef
99.
Zhang S, Roberts REL, McCollister KE. An economic analysis of the in-prison therapeutic community model on prison management costs. J Crim Justice. 2009;37(4):388–95.CrossRef
100.
Huggins R. Mentoring for Progression: Prison Mentoring project – assessing strengths, outcomes and roll-out potential. 2010.
101.
Sifunda S, Reddy PS, Braithwaite RB, Stephens T, Bhengu S, Ruiter RAC, et al. Social construction and cultural meanings of STI/HIV-related terminology among Nguni-speaking inmates and warders in four South African correctional facilities. Health Educ Res. 2006;22(6):805–14.CrossRefPubMed
102.
Wright KN, Bronstein L. Organizational Analysis of Prison Hospice. Prison J. 2007;87(4):391–407.CrossRef
103.
Milburn K. A critical review of peer education with young people with special reference to sexual health. Health Educ Res. 1995;10(4):407–20.CrossRefPubMed
104.
Dennis C-L. Peer support within a healthcare context: a concept analysis. Int J Nurs Stud. 2003;40(3):321–32.CrossRefPubMed
105.
Jolliffe D, Farrington DP. A Rapid Evidence Assessment of the Impact of Mentoring on Re-offending: A Summary. London: Home Office; 2007.
106.
Finnegan L, Whitehurst D, Deaton S. Models of mentoring for inclusion and employment. Thematic review of existing evidence on mentoring and peer mentoring. London: Centre for Economic & Social Inclusion; 2010.
107.
Bowman VE, Lowrey L, Purser J. Two-Tiered Humanistic Pre-release Interventions for Prison Inmates. J Offender Rehabil. 1997;25(1/2):115–28.CrossRef
108.
Prison Reform Trust. Bromley briefings. Prison factfile. London: Prison Reform Trust; 2012.
109.
Gillard S, Edwards C, Gibson S, Holley J, Owen K. New ways of working in mental health services: a qualitative, comparative case study assessing and informing the emergence of new peer worker roles in mental health services in England. Health Serv Deliv Res. 2014;2(19).
110.
Hunter G, Power R. Involving Big Issue vendors in a peer education initiative to reduce drug-related harm: a feasibility study. Drugs: Education, Prevention & Policy. 2002;9(1):57–69.
111.
Boisvert R, Martin L, Grosek M, Clarie A. Effectiveness of a peer-support community in addiction recovery: participation as intervention. Occup Ther Int. 2008;15(4):205–20.CrossRefPubMed
112.
Rogers A, Bower P, Gardner C, Kennedy A, Lee V, Middleton E, et al. The National Evaluation of the Pilot Phase of the Expert Patients Programme. Manchester: National Primary Care Research & Development Centre; 2006.
113.
National Offender Management Serivce, Public Health England, England N. National Partnership Agreement Between: The National Offender Management Service, NHS England and Public Health England for the Co-Commissioning and Delivery of Healthcare Services in Prisons in England. NHS England Publications Gateway 2013 Contract No.: Reference 00435.
Metadata
Title
A systematic review of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of peer education and peer support in prisons
Authors
Anne-Marie Bagnall
Jane South
Claire Hulme
James Woodall
Karen Vinall-Collier
Gary Raine
Karina Kinsella
Rachael Dixey
Linda Harris
Nat MJ Wright
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-1584-x

Other articles of this Issue 1/2015

BMC Public Health 1/2015 Go to the issue

Research article

Incremental health expenditure and lost days of normal activity for individuals with mental disorders: results from the São Paulo Megacity Study

Research article

Influenza-attributable deaths in south-eastern France (1999 to 2010): mortality predictions were undependable

Research article

Leisure-time, occupational, and commuting physical activity and risk of type 2 diabetes in Japanese workers: a cohort study

Research article

Improving child survival through a district management strengthening and community empowerment intervention: early implementation experiences from Uganda

Research article

Prevalence and influence factors of suicidal ideation among females and males in Northwestern urban China: a population-based epidemiological study

Research article

Association of hypoadiponectemia with smokeless/dipping tobacco use in young men