Knowledge and cardiovascular disease risk perception from the perspectives of prisoners and staff in a Scottish prison: a qualitative study.
Int J Prison Health
; 2021 Oct 21.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34664807
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
Prisoners have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to the general population. Knowledge and risk perception of CVD can influence engagement in preventative behaviours that lower an individual's CVD risk. This paper aims to explore prisoners' knowledge of CVD, and prisoners and staff's perceptions of prisoners' CVD risk. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH:
This was a qualitative study in which semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 prisoners and 11 prison and National Health Services staff in a Scottish prison. Data were analysed thematically using the framework method.FINDINGS:
Most prisoners had limited knowledge of CVD as they could not describe it or could only identify one or two risk factors or cardiovascular events. Both prisoners and staff viewed prisoners' CVD risk as either pertaining to one individual, or pertaining to the general prisoner population. Unhealthy behaviours that were believed to increase CVD risk were linked to three perceived consequences of imprisonment mental health problems, boredom and powerlessness. ORIGINALITY/VALUE To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to explore the CVD knowledge of prisoners, and perceptions of CVD risk from the perspectives of prisoners and prison staff. Findings from this study indicate that CVD education needs to be a priority for prisoners, addressing knowledge of CVD, its risk and risk perceptions. Additionally, the findings indicate that individual and socio-environmental factors linked to prisoners' CVD risk need to be targeted to reduce this risk. Future research should focus on socio-environmental interventions that can lead to reducing the CVD risk of prisoners.
Texto completo:
1
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Tipo de estudio:
Etiology_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
/
Risk_factors_studies
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Int J Prison Health
Asunto de la revista:
SAUDE PUBLICA
Año:
2021
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Reino Unido