Enhancing Uptake of Needle and Syringe Programs in Canadian Federal Prisons

McGill University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Hepatitis C Virus (HCV); HIV

Treatments: Behavioral: NIATx

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07122219

2023-9201

195710 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study is focused on improving the implementation of Prison Needle Exchange Programs (PNEPs) in Canadian federal prisons, with the goal of increasing the uptake of these programs among people who inject drugs in prison. The study is being conducted in nine federal prisons, including five women's prisons, where a higher proportion of incarcerated individuals report a history of injection drug use. This study aims to improve PNEP adoption and sustainability by identifying barriers and facilitators and implementing evidence-based strategies to enhance program engagement.

Full description

Using a step-wedge design, we will conduct a Type 2 hybrid implementation trial to assess the extent to which PNEP uptake is improved over 24 months of observation using the Network for the Improvement of Addiction Treatment (NIATx) implementation strategy bundle. Nine prisons were non-randomly* allocated to one of three groups, with the groups receiving the intervention (i.e., NIATx) over 24 months at staggered time intervals (every 6 months). This will be followed by an additional 12 month post-intervention period, when sustainability will be assessed.

*Originally randomized; allocation was modified due to logistical constraints

Enrollment: 548 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• All people incarcerated at a study site during the intervention period

Exclusion criteria

- None (site level intervention)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Sequential Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

---

548 participants in 3 patient groups

NIATx group 1

Experimental group

Description:

Control (month 1-6) then NIATx (month 7-30) then Maintenance (month 31-42)

Treatment:

Behavioral: NIATx

NIATx group 2

Experimental group

Description:

Control (month 7-12) then NIATx (month 13-36) then Maintenance (month 37-48)

Treatment:

Behavioral: NIATx

NIATx group 3

Experimental group

Description:

Control (month 13-18) then NIATx (month 19-42) then Maintenance (month 43-54)

Treatment:

Behavioral: NIATx