Training Among Noncustodial Health Care Workers Caring for Patients Experiencing Incarceration: A Preliminary...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Healthcare Delivery
• Incarcerated Populations

Background:

• Healthcare for incarcerated individuals often occurs outside correctional facilities.
• Understanding non-custodial healthcare worker training is crucial for optimizing care.
• Limited data exists on the specific training and experiences of these providers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the training and experiences of non-custodial healthcare workers caring for patients experiencing incarceration.
• To identify challenges faced by healthcare workers in this setting.
• To gauge interest in further training among healthcare workers.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional, exploratory survey design.
• Survey administered to healthcare workers at a single academic institution.
• Data collected on training, experiences, and challenges related to caring for incarcerated patients.

Main Results:

• 94.1% of 333 respondents had cared for incarcerated patients.
• Only 22.5% reported formal training in this area.
• 94.6% expressed strong interest in additional training.
• Common challenges included lack of privacy, examination difficulties, and patient distress.

Conclusions:

• Non-custodial healthcare workers frequently encounter challenges when caring for incarcerated patients.
• There is a significant unmet need and strong interest in specialized training.
• Further research is warranted to develop targeted educational interventions.