Talking About Incarceration History: Engaging Patients and Healthcare Providers in Communication.

Area of Science:

• Medical Sociology
• Public Health
• Health Equity

Background:

• Incarcerated populations exhibit higher chronic disease rates, often persisting post-release.
• Healthcare providers may lack training on incarceration's health impact and patient communication.
• Understanding these factors is crucial for continuity of care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess healthcare providers' preparedness for interviewing patients about incarceration history.
• To evaluate provider confidence in managing health consequences related to incarceration.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study utilizing a web-based, self-administered questionnaire.
• Survey distributed to a random sample of healthcare providers at Brigham and Women's Hospital.
• 114 providers (doctors, physician assistants, nurse practitioners) completed the survey.

Main Results:

• 73% of providers care for formerly incarcerated patients, yet only 8% received specialized training.
• 81% did not inquire about incarceration history; 60% reported low comfort discussing it.
• While 77% agreed incarceration impacts health, 64% lacked confidence in addressing related needs.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare providers acknowledge incarceration as a health determinant but report low confidence in managing related patient needs.
• Findings highlight a critical need for enhanced provider training to improve care for formerly incarcerated individuals.
• Such training is essential for advancing health equity and ensuring comprehensive patient care.