This presentation covers a rare topic: how to reach a hard-to-reach population which is not seen in regular health studies and how to engage people living in prison into scientific examination. What are the key lessons learned from the Finnish prison health examination study (WattuIV) conducted during 2020-2022.
The aim of the WattuIV study is to: obtain information on the health, mental health disorders and social status of people living in prison; promote their health, functional capacity, wellbeing and reintroduction to society; strengthen the continuity of care and service pathways; produce information to support the development of prison social welfare services in general. This presentation discusses the health and wellbeing of prisoners more diversely than before from several different perspectives. In addition to results, the audience will hear a number of recommendations for practice and future research.
Moderated by Ivan Calder, Chair, Healthcare Network, ICPA, United States
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Mika Rautanen
Head of Department, Research Manager, Health Care Services for Prisoners, Finnish Institue for Health and Welfare, Finland
Mika Rautanen has worked as a clinical forensic psychiatrist in several prisons in Finland and has a department head position in the Psychiatric Hospital for Prisoners. He has been the head of a large nationwide prison population study (WattuIV) conducted by the Finnish Institution for Health and Welfare. As a research manager he continues with further academic studies arising from the WattuIV data.
In his presentation, Rautanen shows key results from prison health examination study but also reveals lessons learned from the long journey of planning and carrying out a population study among people living in prison.
