[Peer-to-peer interventions in health promotion within the prison community: an integrative review of the literature].

UNLABELLED: . Peer-to-peer interventions in health promotion within the prison community: an integrative review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION

The Italian prison system is confronted with significant health challenges, driven by an increasingly elderly and vulnerable inmate population. There is growing interest in peer interventions-internationally validated as a strategy to promote health and well-being.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the most recent evidence on peer-to-peer interventions within the prison population, describing their characteristics, areas of application, and the main outcomes regarding self-care, mental health, treatment adherence, and hospitalization.

METHODS

An integrative review was conducted. A systematic search was carried out in the Medline, PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and PsycINFO databases, using the keywords prisoners, peer support, peer tutor, peer education, listeners group, and health trainers. Studies published from 2014 to February 2025 were included.

RESULTS

The findings indicate that peer support and peer mentoring represent the most comprehensive and effective approaches for improving mental health, reducing suicide risk, enhancing treatment adherence, and supporting social reintegration. Peer-to-peer interventions were particularly effective in promoting positive attitudes and behaviours toward the prevention of infectious and sexually transmitted diseases; improving emotional well-being-especially in the early stages of detention; ensuring adherence to outpatient services and correct medication intake, which in turn significantly reduced hospitalisations.

CONCLUSIONS

Peer interventions have a positive impact on mental health, well-being, and reintegration outcomes, demonstrating both effectiveness and sustainability. Nevertheless, in Italy, structured programmes remain scarce, highlighting the urgency of strengthening and coordinating existing local initiatives.