Abstract
Purpose/Background
Health inequalities are defined as unfair and avoidable differences in health across the population. People belonging to inclusion health groups are most at risk of experiencing these inequalities and tackling them is an NHS priority. Inclusion health groups include ‘people in contact with the justice system’ and BCHC NHS FT is commissioned to provide physiotherapy to prisoners at HMP Birmingham. The purpose of this study was to better understand the MSK health-status and MSK conditions affecting this minoritised patient population.
Methods/Results
The MSK service at HMP Birmingham collects the MSK-HQ PROM for all prisoners attending physiotherapy. A retrospective analysis of the electronic patient record was performed using convenience sampling, with baseline MSK-HQ scores of prisoners seen between 01/04/2023 and 01/02/2024 captured alongside the primary presenting MSK condition. Simple descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the data. A total of 129 patients attended initial physiotherapy appointments within the time-period. Baseline MSK-HQ was collected for 62 patients (48%) with a mean (SD) score of 23.08(11.38). The most common MSK condition was Back pain with a count of 12(19.35%). The mean (SD) MSK-HQ score for prisoners with back pain was 22.08(9.98).
Conclusion
This is the first known evaluation in the published literature of the baseline MSK health-status and primary MSK conditions affecting prisoners. A published evaluation of baseline MSK health-status for patients attending a community MSK service reported a mean (SD) MSK-HQ of 28.59(10.80) indicating that, a poorer MSK health-status is experienced by this minoritised group. Further work, co-produced with prisoners, is planned to explore further.
Conflicts of interest
None
Sources of funding
None
