Catalan contribution in the European project MEntally Disturbed Inmates Care and Support (MEDICS).

OBJECTIVE: To know the criteria of penitentiary professionals about the causes, management methods and improvement proposal, in the attention and care of inmates suffering non-serious mental disorders. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Activity developed from March to May 2015. In Catalonia, three prisons participated. Seven different models of anonymous and written questionnaires were distributed, designed by Italy, and aimed at directors, treatment teams, correctional officers, teachers, doctors, nursing staff and volunteers. They presented the degree of participation, descriptive characteristics of groups and main answers given. To study the association between qualitative variables, the Chi squared and the exact Fisher test was used. RESULTS: Questionnaires distributed among the 744 employees and there were obtained 174 filled (23.4%). There was more participation among health staff and treatment teams (88% and 36%). About the age of participants, doctors were the most senior group with meaningful differences (p <0.001). 40.7% were men and 57.7% women. Among the non-health staff 70% of correctional officers held a degree. Most of the total (62.4%) had their work as their main sources of knowledge about mental health. The main answers given are presented. DISCUSSION: Almost 25% of penitentiary professionals participated in the MEDICS project. Most of them (67%) held a degree. There is a professional concern about mental disorders but not discrimination. Some groups (doctors and, specially, non-health professionals) believe as basic a continuing training and working in multidisciplinary teams.

Aportación de Cataluña al proyecto europeo MEntally Disturbed Inmates Care and Support (MEDICS) / Catalan contribution in the European project MEntally Disturbed Inmates Care and Support (MEDICS)

Objetivo: Conocer la opinión de los trabajadores penitenciarios sobre las causas, métodos de manejo y propuestas de mejora en la atención de los reclusos que presentan trastornos mentales no graves. Material y métodos: Actividad realizada de marzo a mayo de 2015. En Cataluña participaron tres prisiones. Se distribuyeron siete modelos diferentes de cuestionarios anónimos, diseñados por Italia, y dirigidos a directores, técnicos de los equipos de tratamiento, funcionarios de vigilancia, profesores, médicos, enfermeros y voluntarios. Para estudiar la asociación entre variables cualitativas se utilizaron la prueba de ji al cuadrado y el test exacto de Fisher. Resultados: Se distribuyeron 744 cuestionarios y hubo 174 cumplimentaciones (23,4%). La participación fue mayor en sanitarios y profesionales del equipo de tratamiento (88% y 36%, respectivamente). Los médicos tenían más edad media que otros grupos, con diferencias estadísticamente significativas (p <0,001). El 40,7% eran hombres y el 57,7% mujeres. El 70% de los funcionarios de vigilancia tenían estudios superiores. La mayoría (62,4%) consideró que el mayor conocimiento en salud mental lo había obtenido por el trabajo penitenciario. Se presentan las principales respuestas obtenidas de cada colectivo. Discusión: Casi un cuarto de los trabajadores participaron en el proyecto MEDICS. El 67% del total de participantes eran licenciados universitarios. Hay preocupación profesional sobre los trastornos mentales, pero no discriminación, y algunos grupos (médicos y, sobre todo, profesionales no sanitarios) consideran básica la formación continuada en este ámbito y el trabajo en equipo interprofesional

Objective: To know the criteria of penitentiary professionals about the causes, management methods and improvement proposal, in the attention and care of inmates suffering non-serious mental disorders. Material and methods: Activity developed from March to May 2015. In Catalonia, three prisons participated. Seven different models of anonymous and written questionnaires were distributed, designed by Italy, and aimed at directors, treatment teams, correctional officers, teachers, doctors, nursing staff and volunteers. They presented the degree of participation, descriptive characteristics of groups and main answers given. To study the association between qualitative variables, the Chi squared and the exact Fisher test was used. Results: Questionnaires distributed among the 744 employees and there were obtained 174 filled (23.4%). There was more participation among health staff and treatment teams (88% and 36%). About the age of participants, doctors were the most senior group with meaningful differences (p <0.001). 40.7% were men and 57.7% women. Among the non-health staff 70% of correctional officers held a degree. Most of the total (62.4%) had their work as their main sources of knowledge about mental health. The main answers given are presented. Discussion: Almost 25% of penitentiary professionals participated in the MEDICS project. Most of them (67%) held a degree. There is a professional concern about mental disorders but not discrimination. Some groups (doctors and, specially, non-health professionals) believe as basic a continuing training and working in multidisciplinary teams

[Incidence of suicide in Catalan prisons: a descriptive and comparative study]. / Incidencia del suicidio en las prisiones de Cataluña: análisis descriptivo y comparado.

INTRODUCTION: The prevention of suicide in prison is one of the most important challenges facing prison health care services in developed countries. The aim of this study is to analyse the incidence of suicide in Catalan prisons and accumulate data about a number of variables that have also been studied in other prison populations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of suicide cases in prisons administrated by the Catalan Regional Government (Generalitat de Catalunya) between 1990 and 2005 (n=65). Comparative study of incidence with European countries using published data. RESULTS: The average annual incidence for the period is of 59/100.000, multiplying by eight the level corresponding to the general population. CONCLUSIONS: Entry into prison is the most important event trigger for suicide. Other data open the way to new research.

Incidencia del suicidio en las prisiones de Cataluña: análisis descriptivo y comparado / Incidence of suicide in catalan prisons: adescriptive and comparativew study

Introducción: La prevención del suicidio en prisión se impone entre los retos más importantes de la sanidad penitenciariaen los países desarrollados. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar la incidencia del suicidio en las prisiones catalanas yrecoger datos sobre algunas variables investigadas también en otras poblaciones de reclusos.Material y métodos: Estudio retrospectivo de los casos de suicidio en los centros penitenciarios dependientes de la Generalitatde Catalunya entre 1990-2005 (n=65). Estudio comparado de la incidencia con los países europeos a partir de datospublicados.Resultados: La incidencia anual media del período es de 59/100.000, octuplicando la tasa correspondiente a la poblacióngeneral.Conclusiones: El ingreso en prisión supone el acontecimiento desencadenante más importante. Otros resultados abrenlas puertas a nuevas investigaciones (AU)

Introduction: The prevention of suicide in prison is one of the most important challenges facing prison health care servicesin developed countries. The aim of this study is to analyse the incidence of suicide in Catalan prisons and accumulatedata about a number of variables that have also been studied in other prison populations.Materials and methods: Retrospective study of suicide cases in prisons administrated by the Catalan Regional Government(Generalitat de Catalunya) between 1990 and 2005 (n=65). Comparative study of incidence with European countriesusing published data.Results: The average annual incidence for the period is of 59/100.000, multiplying by eight the level corresponding tothe general population.Conclusions: Entry into prison is the most important event trigger for suicide. Other data open the way to new research (AU)

[Characteristics of AIDS cases detected at a prison in Barcelona (1991-1993)]. / Características de los casos de SIDA detectados en una prisión de Barcelona (1991-1993).

OBJECTIVE: To describe the cases of AIDS detected in a Barcelona prison. DESIGN: A prospective study. SETTING: A penitentiary for men in Barcelona. PATIENTS: All those inmates who had AIDS or were diagnosed with the illness during their stay in prison during the 36 months between 1/1/1991 and 31/12/93. RESULTS: 220 cases of AIDS (91.7% PVDA), 60% of which were diagnosed in prison. The PVDA were younger (p < 0.0001). There were a greater number of Spaniards among the UDVP (p < 0.01) and among those with tattoos (p < 0.001). The first manifestation of the disease in 53% of the cases was extrapulmonary Tuberculosis. CONCLUSIONS: Prisons are key places in the prevention and monitoring of HIV infection. The use of care programmes, including maintenance programmes using Methadone, for drug-dependent patients are recommended. The continuation of programmes tracking Tuberculosis, the main illness related to HIV infection in prison, is also recommended.