Randomised controlled trial of a service brokerage intervention for ex-prisoners in Australia

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Health outcomes after release from prison are typically poor with elevated rates of morbidity and mortality widely documented. Under-utilisation of health services contributes to these outcomes, but interventions to increase health service utilisation in ex-prisoners are in their infancy and few have been rigorously evaluated. METHODS: Single-blinded randomised controlled trial of a service brokerage intervention (the 'Passports study') for N = 1325 adult ex-prisoners in Queensland, Australia. Participants in the intervention group received a personalised booklet summarising their health status and identifying appropriate community health services; trained workers made weekly tel..