Prisoner knowledge about head injury is improved by brief psychoeducation

Buchan, L. D. and McMillan, T. M. (2022) Prisoner knowledge about head injury is improved by brief psychoeducation. Brain Injury, 36(3), pp. 401-405. (doi: 10.1080/02699052.2022.2034187) (PMID:35143348)

Abstract

Introduction: The high prevalence of head injury (HI) in prisoners and its association with offending indicates a need for interventions. However, there is little evidence and none for the effectiveness of psychoeducation in improving prisoner knowledge about HI and its effects. Methods: Small groups of males in two Scottish prisons underwent a 1 hour psychoeducation session delivered by PowerPoint and combined with question and answer, video clips and a booklet about HI. A pre-post intervention design was used to assess knowledge about HI from vignettes. Participants indicated effects of HI using unprompted free recall and then with a questionnaire (the Symptom Checklist; SCL), pre-education (n = 34), post-education (n = 19) and at 4-week follow-up (n = 11). Free recall was scored using symptom lists from national guidelines (FR-SIGN) or the SCL (FR-SCL). Within-subject comparisons were made between pre-intervention, post-intervention and follow-up scores. Results: Knowledge about HI significantly increased pre- to post-education for FR-SIGN (d = 0.91; 95% CI 0.62, 2.53) and FR-SCL (d = 0.99; 95% CI 0.95, 4.00) without decrement at follow-up (FR-SIGN d = 1.27; 95% CI 0.53, 2.56; FR-SCL r = 0.60). Scores on the SCL did not change over time (p > .05). Conclusion: Prisoner knowledge about HI was improved by brief psychoeducation suitable for delivery in prisons.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: LB was funded by NHS Education Scotland; Scottish Government [N/A].
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Buchan, Louise Dianne and McMillan, Professor Tom
• Authors: Buchan, L. D., and McMillan, T. M.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Journal Name: Brain Injury
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• ISSN: 0269-9052
• ISSN (Online): 1362-301X
• Published Online: 10 February 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Brain Injury 2022
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License