Improved nutrition has implications for both prisoners and the penal system. This study evaluated a pilot intervention to improve nutrition in prisoners. Residents of a correctional substance abuse program (SAP) completed a health risk appraisal (HRA) upon entering the SAP and at completion. Nineteen participants in a pilot nutrition workshop were matched with 37 nonparticipant controls. Analysis of changes in HRA responses relating to nutrition, general health, and social ties found that a significantly greater proportion of participants than controls reported improved nutrition practices (23.5% vs. 3.2%, p = .047). Participants were 4 times more likely to report improved general health than controls (52.6% vs. 13.9%, p = .002). A smaller proportion of participants than controls reported improved social ties (10.5% vs. 30.6%, p = .18). This study suggests that inmate participants and the penal system may benefit from nutrition workshops. Further investigation should involve a larger study population.
This report describes the implementation of a comprehensive wellness intervention in a corrections-based substance abuse program. The wellness program was modeled after successful work site wellness initiatives. The PRECEDE-PROCEED (Predisposing, Reinforcing, and Enabling Constructs in Educational/Environmental Diagnosis and Evaluation—Policy, Regulatory, and Organizational Constructs in Educational and Environmental Development) planning model and the Community-Based Participatory Research model were used to facilitate a participative process engaging both corrections administrators and residents of the therapeutic community. A community representative wellness committee developed and implemented an evidence-based strategic plan with short- and long-term goals supported by numerous health promotion activities. Data collection tools were used to evaluate the implementation and impact of the wellness intervention. Observations on the reasons for the program's success and barriers to overcome are detailed.
In 2006, a comprehensive wellness intervention, titled Wellness Works, was implemented in an incarcerated male population at a 200-bed facility in LaGrange, Kentucky. The purpose of this study was to determine health risk factors and benefits of program participation by analyzing data from a pre-/post-participation health risk assessment (HRA). In total, 448 inmates completed the pre-HRA and 177 (40%) completed the post-HRA. Among program completers, two of the six measured domains (smoking and depression) showed significant improvement at the post-HRA while the other domains (exercise, nutrition, stress, and dental hygiene) did not show significant changes. Overall, this study shows positive signs of improving the health of the incarcerated population with this wellness program, but also points to the need for a controlled study.
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