[Mind-body relaxation in prison : A beneficial complement for the management of stress and anxiety]. / La relaxation psychocorporelle en prison - Un complément bénéfique pour la gestion du stress et de l'anxiété.

The prison environment can be stressful for imprisoned persons. Prison health services primarily offer medication to help individuals cope with stress and other related symptoms, such as restlessness, anxiety or insomnia. Mind-body relaxation techniques can be complementary or an alternative to medication to manage stress or anxiety. We conducted an exploratory study in a post-trial facility using a mixed method approach drawing on the principles of participatory action research to assess the perceived benefits of a mind-body relaxation intervention led by nurses.

L'environnement carcéral peut être stressant pour les personnes détenues. Les services de santé en prison proposent avant tout des médicaments pour aider les individus à faire face au stress et à des symptômes associés, tels que l'agitation, l'anxiété ou l'insomnie. Les techniques de relaxation psychocorporelles peuvent être complémentaires ou alternatives aux médicaments pour gérer le stress ou l'anxiété. Nous avons conduit une étude exploratoire dans un établissement d'exécution de peines en utilisant une méthode mixte s'inspirant des principes de la recherche-action participative pour évaluer les avantages perçus d'une intervention de relaxation psychocorporelle de groupe conduite par des infirmières.

Access to treatment in prison: an inventory of medication preparation and distribution approaches.

The preparation and distribution of medication in prisons or jails are critical for individuals to access their treatment. This process is resource-intensive for healthcare professionals and may violate principles of confidentiality, autonomy, respect, and dignity if non-qualified staff are involved. However, there are no published best practices on the topic. This report aims to bridge this gap by presenting the results of a mapping exercise on different models of medication preparation and delivery. Authors call upon healthcare professionals to enrich this live document to inform health services research further and improve access to prescribed medications for people experiencing incarceration.

Nurse-led mind-body relaxation intervention in prison: A multiperspective mixed-method evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Mind-body relaxation techniques are complementary or alternative to medication to manage high stress and anxiety levels in prisons. PURPOSE: To assess the motivation to attend and perceived benefits of a nurse-led group relaxation intervention in prison, investigate the experience of participants, prison officers, and health professionals, and identify improvements. METHOD: Exploratory study was conducted in a post-trial facility in Switzerland using a multiperspective convergent parallel mixed method drawing from participatory action research principles. FINDINGS: Reasons for attendance included back problems, mental tension, physical fitness, relaxation, and sleep problems. Perceived benefits comprised autonomy in self-practice, decreased physical tensions and anxiety, and improvement of sleep and physical fitness. Qualitative findings converged highlighting the importance of body-centering, relaxation as an alternative to medication, negative representations about relaxation sessions (useless, effeminate), and recommendations for improvement, including audio-visual support for self-practice. DISCUSSION: Long-standing mind-body relaxation interventions led by nurses in groups may offer participants a beneficial and operationally feasible complement to stress management in prisons.

Health care in small prisons: incorporating high-quality standards.

PURPOSE: In the past, health management in Geneva's six post-trial prisons had been variable and inconsistent. In 2008, the unit of penitentiary medicine of the Geneva University Hospitals was mandated to re-organize and provide health care at all six prison facilities. The specific aim of this paper is to outline the example as a practical solution to some of the common challenges in unifying the structure and process of health services across multiple small facilities, while meeting European prison health and local quality standards. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: Geneva's post-trial prisons are small and close to one another in geographical proximity - ideal conditions for the construction of a health mobile team (HMT). This multidisciplinary mobile team operated like a community ambulatory care model; it was progressively launched in all prison facilities in Geneva. The authors incorporated an implementation strategy where health providers partnered with prison and community stakeholders in the health delivery model's development and adaption process. FINDINGS: The model's strategic initiatives are described along the following areas, in light of other international prison health activity and prior care models: access to a health care professional, equivalence of care, patient consent, confidentiality, humanitarian interventions, and professional competence and independence. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: From the perspective of the HMT members, the authors provide the "lessons learned" through this experience, especially to providers who are working on prison health services reform and coordination improvement. The paper particularly stresses the importance of partnering with community health stakeholders and prison staff, a key component to the approach.