Carroll Megan, Kinner Stuart A, Heffernan Edward B
Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria.
Aust N Z J Public Health. 2014 Apr;38(2):142-6. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.12203.
To (a) characterise medication use and knowledge, according to Indigenous status, and (b) identify independent correlates of medication knowledge in a sample of adult prisoners.
Cross-sectional survey of 1,231 adult prisoners in Queensland, interviewed within six weeks of release. Measures included self-reported demographic and health-related characteristics, self-reported use of medications, the Hayes Ability Screening Index (HASI) and the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Objective medication data were abstracted from prison medical records. A medication knowledge score was calculated to reflect the agreement between self-reported and objective medication use.
46% of participants were taking at least one medication. The most common class of medication was Central Nervous System (30% of participants). Medication knowledge was generally poor, with one quarter of prisoners unable to accurately identify any of their medications. Independent correlates of poor medication knowledge included not taking Central Nervous System medications, identifying as Indigenous and age >54.
Around half prisoners are taking medications in prison, but most have poor knowledge of what these medications are. Medication knowledge is associated with better adherence and may contribute to improved health outcomes post-release. Changes to prescribing and dispensing practices in prison may improve medication knowledge and health outcomes in this profoundly marginalised group.
(a) 根据原住民身份描述药物使用情况和知识水平，(b) 确定成年囚犯样本中药物知识的独立相关因素。
对昆士兰州1231名成年囚犯进行横断面调查，在其获释六周内进行访谈。测量指标包括自我报告的人口统计学和健康相关特征、自我报告的药物使用情况、海斯能力筛查指数（HASI）和简短健康调查问卷（SF - 36）。客观药物数据从监狱医疗记录中提取。计算药物知识得分以反映自我报告的药物使用与客观药物使用之间的一致性。
46%的参与者正在服用至少一种药物。最常见的药物类别是中枢神经系统药物（占参与者的30%）。药物知识总体较差，四分之一的囚犯无法准确识别他们服用的任何药物。药物知识差的独立相关因素包括未服用中枢神经系统药物、认定为原住民以及年龄>54岁。
大约一半的囚犯在监狱中服用药物，但大多数人对这些药物是什么知之甚少。药物知识与更好的依从性相关，可能有助于改善释放后的健康状况。监狱处方和配药做法的改变可能会改善这个极度边缘化群体的药物知识和健康状况。
