REPROVIDE: Reaching Everyone Programme of Research On Violence in diverse Domestic Environments
Funding
National Institute for Health (NIHR) Programme Grants for Applied Research (PGfAR) Ref. RP-PG-0614-20012
What is the research question?
How can we increase the safety and well-being of victims of domestic violence and abuse (DVA) and their children?
What is the problem?
Domestic violence and abuse (DVA) is a serious public and clinical health problem. Previous research has demonstrated that training and support programmes can improve the response of clinicians to women patients experiencing abuse. Providing training around the needs of men experiencing or perpetrating DVA and exposed children has been piloted, but the DVA advocacy response to male victims needs further development. Primary care-based training for an effective and safe response to all family members experiencing or perpetrating DVA needs to be integrated into one programme and rigorously evaluated.
What is the aim of the research?
This research plans to improve how healthcare professionals respond to all adult patients who experience or perpetrate DVA, and to their children. The needs of other groups of perpetrators such as those in same-sex relationships will also be explored.
How will this be achieved?
The two workstreams of this study are as follows:
- The study will examine the value of training general practice staff about the needs of children exposed to DVA and men and women experiencing or perpetrating DVA and linking them to specialist services, via an advocate. This approach will be trialled in 4 practices and then on a wider basis to test whether the programme works and is value for money.
- A group programme will be developed for men who perpetrate DVA and their partners/ex-partners. The researchers and a group of experts will consult on which is the most promising programme which will be adapted and tested firstly in a small group and then tested in a large trial based in primary care and evaluated on the extent to which safety has increased and whether abuse has stopped/decreased.
Who is leading the research?
Prof Gene Feder, Professor of Primary Health Care, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol.
Further information:
For more information or to get involved in this project, please contact bnssg.research@nhs.net.
The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.