Factors which influence hepatitis C testing in prison
Research type
Research Study
Full title
What influences the choice of people in prison when opting in or out of Hepatitis C Virus Infection testing in the East Midlands Prison Estate?
IRAS ID
230755
Contact name
William Irving
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Nottingham, Research and Graduate Services
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 12 months, days
Research summary
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading cause of liver disease. In the UK, HCV is spread when people share the equipment needed to inject illegal drugs. As this is illegal activity, many people who go to prison will have been at risk of catching HCV. Treatments are available for HCV which cure over 95% of people. A policy was introduced in April 2014 to test everyone entering a prison for HCV by using an “opt-out” approach to offering the test, which means that everyone is tested unless they choose not to be. In the East Midlands region, the method of testing is to use drops of blood obtained by a finger-prick, called the dried blood spot test. However data from Public Health England show that the numbers of people being tested has only increased from 11% to 21%. This research seeks to understand why people are not being tested in HMP Ranby so that improvements to the way testing is organised can be made. There are two phases to this research; (1) a one page questionnaire given to prisoners to provide numerical data on reasons why people refuse to be tested. (2) The audio-recorded interviews with prisoners will enable them to explain in detail what it is like to be tested and in some cases receive a diagnosis in a prison. This will add depth to an understanding of the testing process and the numerical data obtained. The interviews with prison nurses who conduct the tests will enable them to explain the barriers and enablers to testing people in prison. These interviews may take between 20 minutes and one hour. Giving participants the opportunity to discuss HCV testing in prisons in their own words may raise issues and suggestions for service improvement that have not previously been considered.
REC name
West Midlands - South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/WM/0312
Date of REC Opinion
20 Sep 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion