Criminal Justice Drug Abuse Treatment Studies (CJ-DATS) 2: HIV Services and Treatment Implementation in Corrections 2010-2013 [United States]

The HIV Services Treatment Implementation in Corrections study protocol tested a modified Network for the Improvement of Addiction Treatment (NIATx) process to facilitate site-specific improvements in the HIV services continuum. In both control sites and sites randomized to the modified NIATx process, criminal justice staff received training on the fundamentals of HIV prevention and treatment. Sites in the experimental condition formed a local change team to engage in a process improvement approach with external coaching to implement a more complete HIV services continuum. Within the overall parameters of the protocol - which emphasized HIV prevention, HIV testing and linkage to treatment - sites assessed local needs and existing services, set priorities for service improvements, and developed specific goals and strategies for achieving them. All sites participating in the HIV-STIC study targeted three goals: (1) improving the perceived value of HIV services among corrections staff (2) increasing service penetration for inmates with or at risk for HIV (3) improving the quality of HIV service delivery. During the 10 month intervention period data were obtained using survey instruments administered to staff members and aggregate services delivery data. The unit of analysis for Dataset 1 (DS1) is the facility (prison or jail). Correctional or health service staff provided the researchers with records of delivery of HIV services to their offenders in aggregate form. These data distinguish between experimental and control group institutions. The unit of analysis for Dataset 2 (DS2) was individual staff and administrative personnel from stakeholder agencies (correctional facilities, community HIV treatment providers, county health departments, case management, and substance abuse treatment organizations). The survey used for this dataset was the Change Team Assessment, which was administered around 10 months after baseline training was provided. This survey was only administered to the experimental group. The unit of analysis for Dataset 3 (DS3) was individual staff and administrative personnel from stakeholder agencies (correctional facilities, community HIV treatment providers, county health departments, case management, and substance abuse treatment organizations). The survey administered was the Facility Impact Assessment, which was given around 10 months after baseline training. Dataset 4 (DS4) contains survey responses from individual inmates. Independent samples were drawn at the study baseline and the post-intervention follow-up. The surveys administered were the Anonymous Inmate Survey that examined the delivery of HIV services to inmates. Because the survey was administered anonymously, baseline and follow-up surveys are not longitudinal. Dataset 5 (DS5) contains survey responses from individual staff members who completed at least one of the following surveys: Baseline Survey of Organization Characteristics, Tear-Off Sheet Demographics, Workshop Evaluation, HIV Staff Survey of Baseline Scales, HIV Services Delivery, and HIV Staff and Services Survey 12-month Follow-up Scales. Many staff who completed a baseline survey may not have completed a follow-up survey and staff who completed a follow-up survey may not have completed the baseline survey due to staff turnover for various reasons as well as simply failure to respond to survey requests. The protocol used allowed replacement staff in similar roles to respond at follow-up.