Table 1

Characteristics of participants at baseline, by intervention group

NIX (%) (n=665)TAU (%) (n=660)p Value*
Mean age in years (SD)132532.7 (11.3)32.8 (10.9)0.86
Male132578.579.20.74
Indigenous132525.425.60.94
Married/de facto132534.934.20.76
<10 years of schooling132541.445.30.15
Unemployed before prison132552.653.50.76
Unstable accommodation before prison132017.516.00.46
Prior prison admission132567.467.00.88
Median days in prison (SD)1325309.8 (549.7)321.1 (567.0)0.71
Hepatitis C antibody positive†124617.814.40.10
Taking ≥1 medication†123148.343.60.09
High/very high psychological distress‡132027.824.20.13
Lifetime diagnosis of mental illness132445.341.60.18
Lifetime injecting drug use history132257.254.30.30
Risky cannabis use§132447.145.60.58
Risky heroin use§132217.217.90.73
Risky methamphetamine use§132338.637.90.82
Risky alcohol use¶129661.661.40.93
Current tobacco smoker132480.176.40.10
Received QCS transitional support132442.541.70.15
Correctional supervision post-release132459.261.10.49
  • *Independent samples t test for continuous variables, χ2 test for categorical variables.

  • †From medical records.

  • ‡According to Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10).

  • §According to Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Use Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST).

  • ¶According to Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT).

  • IX, intervention; QCS, Queensland Corrective Services; TAU, treatment as usual.