National Prisons Hepatitis Education Project: Research Evaluation

NCT05942937 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: VISP2101
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 3,000
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

The National Prisons Hepatitis Education Program (HepPEd Program) is a national, prison-based hepatitis C health literacy education program for healthcare providers, correctional officers, and people in prison. The HepPEd Program aims to improve the public health literacy of the prison sector regarding hepatitis C in prisons. The HepPEd: Research Evaluation aims to evaluate the impact of the HepPEd Program on HCV testing and treatment uptake amongst people incarcerated in Australian prisons, as well as changes in knowledge, attitudes, and capabilities of healthcare providers, correctional officers, and people in prison. The study is a controlled before and after study being conducted in 3-6 correctional centres in Australia.

Conditions

HCV

Keywords

Hepatitis C; Public Health; Health Service; Prison; Education

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• The change in the proportion of prisoners treated for HCV before and after the education intervention.

  This will be measured by calculating the change in HCV treatment rates before and after the education intervention.

  9 months from baseline

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• The proportion of prisoners tested for HCV before and after the education intervention.

  9 months from baseline

• The health literacy (knowledge, attitudes, and capabilities) amongst target audience groups (healthcare providers, correctional officers, and people in prison) before and after the education intervention.

  9 months from baseline

• The acceptability, utility, and impact of the HepPEd Program.

  9 months from baseline

• The dose, reach, and fidelity of the HepPEd Program.

  9 months from baseline

Study Arms (1)

Whole-of-prison education intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

The HepPEd Program will saturate the entire prison during a 3-month intervention phase.

Other: Education Intervention (The HepPEd Program)

Interventions

Education Intervention (The HepPEd Program) OTHER

All healthcare providers, correctional officers, and people in prison (HepPEd Program target audience groups) at each participating site are anticipated to be exposed to the HepPEd Program over the course of the three-month education intervention phase. The HepPEd Program involves a suite of multi-modal resources targeting each target audience group and a peer education program (for correctional officer and people in prison groups only). The HepPEd Program resources will be delivered in an informal, mass education-style, as well as in peer to peer format.

Whole-of-prison education intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• a prisoner population of 400-600 inmates (assumed mean 500); and
• an existing prison-based hepatitis service undertaking both HCV testing and treatment.
• be currently incarcerated in a participating correctional centre;
• anticipate being in the participating correctional centre for \>12 months;
• be considered as capable and willing, and well-respected amongst their peers; and
• have approval from custodial authorities to participate as a peer educator.
• be currently working in a participating correctional centre; and
• be considered as capable and willing, and well-respected amongst their peers.
• be over the age of 18 years;
• be currently incarcerated in a participating correctional centre;
• have sufficient English comprehension skills to understand the survey questions; and
• be willing and able to provide written informed consent.
• \) be currently working in a participating correctional centre.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Kirby Institute: lead
• Australasian Society for HIV Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM): collaborator
• Justice health, corrections, and hepatitis and drug-user organisations in each Australian state and territory: collaborator

Study Sites (2)

Capricornia Correctional Centre

Rockhampton, Queensland, 4702, Australia

RECRUITING

Risdon Prison Complex

Hobart, Tasmania, 7016, Australia

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Hepatitis C

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Blood-Borne Infections; Communicable Diseases; Infections; Hepatitis, Viral, Human; Virus Diseases; Flaviviridae Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Hepatitis; Liver Diseases; Digestive System Diseases

Central Study Contacts

Andrew Lloyd

CONTACT

02 9385 2534; a.lloyd@unsw.edu.au

Yumi Sheehan

CONTACT

02 9385 0375; ysheehan@kirby.unsw.edu.au

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER GOV
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: This is a single group, non-randomised, before-and-after trial of an education intervention being conducted in three to six selected prisons in Australia.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 21, 2023
• First Posted: July 12, 2023
• Study Start: September 4, 2023
• Primary Completion: July 1, 2024
• Study Completion: December 1, 2024
• Last Updated: March 6, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

AU (2)