Increasing access to needle-and-syringe programs in Canadian federal prisons
Enhancing Uptake of Needle and Syringe Programs in Canadian Federal Prisons
This project will try a package of implementation strategies to increase use of needle-and-syringe programs by people who inject drugs in nine Canadian federal prisons.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 548 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre Academic / other |
| Locations | 9 sites (Edmonton, Alberta and 8 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT07122219 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This Type 2 hybrid implementation trial uses a stepped-wedge design to introduce the NIATx implementation strategy bundle across nine federal prisons over a 24-month period, followed by a 12-month sustainability assessment. Prisons were non-randomly allocated to three groups that receive the intervention at staggered six-month intervals. The trial will identify barriers and facilitators to Prison Needle Exchange Program (PNEP) uptake and apply evidence-based implementation strategies to increase engagement. Five of the participating sites are women's prisons, reflecting higher reported histories of injection drug use in those facilities.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: People who are incarcerated and present at one of the nine participating federal prisons during the intervention period are the intended beneficiaries.
Not a fit: People who do not inject drugs, those incarcerated in non-participating facilities, or individuals released before PNEP implementation is in place are unlikely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, more incarcerated people who inject drugs could access sterile needles and syringes, lowering risk of HIV and HCV transmission in prison.
How similar studies have performed: Needle-and-syringe programs have reduced blood-borne virus risk in some correctional settings and NIATx has improved addiction-service delivery in other contexts, but combining NIATx with PNEP rollout in Canadian federal prisons is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * All people incarcerated at a study site during the intervention period Exclusion Criteria: \- None (site level intervention)
Where this trial is running
Edmonton, Alberta and 8 other locations
- Edmonton Institution for Women — Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (Not_yet_recruiting)
- Fraser Valley Institution for Women — Abbotsford British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada (Not_yet_recruiting)
- Mission Institution — Mission, British Columbia, Canada (Not_yet_recruiting)
- Dorchester Medium — Dorchester, New Brunswick, Canada (Recruiting)
- Atlantic Institution — Smiths Crossing, New Brunswick, Canada (Recruiting)
- Nova Institution for Women — Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada (Recruiting)
- Joyceville Institution — Kingston, Ontario, Canada (Not_yet_recruiting)
- Grand Valley Institution for Women — Kitchener, Ontario, Canada (Not_yet_recruiting)
- Joliette Institution for Women — Joliette, Quebec, Canada (Not_yet_recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Nadine Kronfli — Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
- Study coordinator: Nadine Kronfli
- Email: nadine.kronfli@mcgill.ca
- Phone: 514-934-1934
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.