Procedures for Prison Research with Health Outcomes

‣ Information sheets for staff should reassure staff that theiremployment rights will not be affected in any way shouldthey decide not to participate in the study or withdraw atany time.‣ The language used in the information sheet should besimplified.‣ Further information is required regarding disclosure ofinformation. Subjects should be clear that researchers areobliged to inform the appropriate authorities should thesubject disclose details of any intention to self-harm or harmanother named person, or of an intention to pose a threat tosecurity‣ Subjects should clearly understand that their participation isentirely voluntary and that they can decide not to participateor withdraw from the study at any time without their parole,care or stay in prison being affected in any way.‣ A summary of the study results should be offered tosubjects.‣ Subjects should be informed as to how the audio tapes willbe stored and destroyed.‣ The applicant is asked to clarify who is approaching subjectsin the first instance. It should be noted that it isunacceptable for subjects to be approached/selected byprison staff, who may be acting as gatekeepers in selectingsubjects and therefore introducing bias into the study.‣ Subjects with learning disabilities or subjects with a dualdiagnosis approached, recruited, etc‣ Given the limited degree of literacy in the prison population,what efforts will be made to communicate with those unableto read recruitment material e.g. posters?‣ Sometimes it seems that researchers exclude subjects whomay be the very people with the greatest health and mentalhealth need.‣ Subjects who become distressed whilst participating in thestudy can seek help from prison staff – what system is inplace to deal with this‣ Subjects should be thanked for “considering” taking part inthe study.NB Researchers must be aware of regulations with regard toinformed consent and comply with these. Further information isavailable from NRES (http://www.nres.npsa.nhs.uk).