Collecting resource use data for economic evaluation in a prison setting with a focus on self-harm: the Prison Data...

Area of Science:

• Criminology
• Public Health
• Health Economics

Background:

• Self-harm is a significant and growing issue within correctional facilities, especially affecting incarcerated women.
• Accurate measurement of the costs associated with self-harm is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of new interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To co-develop a novel resource inventory, the Prison Data Inventory (Self-harm), to aid in understanding and quantifying the costs of self-harm in prison settings.
• To adapt an existing forensic resource use tool for use within the prison context.

Main Methods:

• The Prison Data Inventory (Self-harm) was co-developed through adaptation of the existing forensic resource use tool, the SF-SUS.
• Collaboration involved prison staff and individuals with prior experience of incarceration to ensure relevance and practicality.

Main Results:

• Piloting of the Prison Data Inventory (Self-harm) indicated that completion by researchers requires approximately two hours per individual.
• The tool facilitates the use of existing prison data for enhanced analysis.

Conclusions:

• The developed tool provides a method for utilizing existing prison data to strengthen the evidence base for interventions aimed at reducing self-harm.
• Effective resource allocation by policymakers and commissioners can be informed by this tool, potentially leading to improved clinical outcomes for individuals in prison.