Procedures for Prison Research with Health Outcomes

ANNEX 4: COMMON THEMES/ISSUES FROMREVIEWS OF PRISON STUDIESJane Martin, SE REC; July, 2005The following are comments raised by RECs when consideringprison research. Researchers should take these into account intheir applications and make sure any relevant points are addressed.‣ Safety of researcher when conducting the interviews.‣ The recruitment of prison subjects - the prisoners should behanded a copy of the information sheet by healthcare staffand then given the opportunity to contact the researchershould they wish to participate in the study.‣ The questionnaires should refer to drugs using their streetnames.‣ Information is required as to how subjects who are illiteratewill be approached.‣ Details are required regarding the handling of data and howsubjects’ individual confidentiality will be protected.‣ Subjects should be advised that the information collectedthroughout the study will not be shared or used by theprison authorities in order to disadvantage the prisoner intheir prison life.‣ The name of an independent person should be provided withwhom the subject can discuss their possible participation inthe study.‣ If non-English speakers are being excluded justification isrequired as to why they are being excluded from the study.‣ Specific consent is required for the research to accesssubject's mental health records.‣ Justification will be required if a large number of instrumentsare being used as part of the study.‣ Validation of questionnaires in the study population.‣ researcher should not be acting as a gatekeeper whenselecting subjects for the study.‣ questions should not be inappropriate for a prisonpopulation.‣ The numbers of subjects and staff entering the study shouldbe detailed in the information sheet.‣ Realistic time to complete the questionnaires should bedetailed in the information sheets.‣ The subjects should be informed of the type of questions tobe asked during an interview prior to giving consent to takepart in the interview.