Using a Digital Well-Being App in Prisons for Indigenous People
Author Information
Author(s): John Torous, Dana Bradford, Ashley Cole, Elke Perdacher, David Kavanagh, Jeanie Sheffield, Penny Dale, Edward Heffernan
Primary Institution: Queensland Forensic Mental Health Service
Hypothesis
Does adding the Stay Strong app to mental health services improve well-being for Indigenous people in custody?
Conclusion
The study found that while the Stay Strong app was feasible to use in prison, it did not show significant beneficial effects on mental health outcomes.
Supporting Evidence
- Participants showed linear improvements in well-being and empowerment over time.
- Only 42.4% of participants could be assessed at 3 months, raising concerns about retention.
- Staff shortages significantly impacted recruitment and retention rates.
Takeaway
The Stay Strong app was tested to help Indigenous people in prison feel better, but it didn't really make a big difference in how they felt.
Methodology
Participants were recruited from three high-security Australian prisons and were randomized to receive either immediate or delayed access to the Stay Strong app, with assessments conducted at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months.
Potential Biases
Assessments were conducted by treating staff who were not blinded to participant allocation, which may have introduced response bias.
Limitations
High attrition rates due to participant release and staff shortages limited the study's representativeness and ability to detect significant effects.
Participant Demographics
The sample included 132 participants, with 60.6% female and a mean age of 33 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.03
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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