A new clinical trial of a general practice programme to improve the identification and referral of men and children affected by domestic abuse begins in May thanks to a £2.2 million National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) award to University of Bristol researchers, in partnership with Oxford University and the social enterprise IRISi.
The programme, IRIS+, is an expanded version of the successful IRIS (Identification and Referral to Improve Safety) general practice training and support programme, which has been shown to increase referrals of women experiencing domestic violence and abuse (DVA) to specialist services. IRIS+ broadens the scope of the intervention to include men and children, without diminishing the response to women.
The expanded programme was shown to have promise in a feasibility study, results of which were published earlier this year.
Dr Eszter Szilassy, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Academic Primary Care, and Principal Investigator on the trial, said: "Domestic violence and abuse present a significant public health challenge, affecting nine million adults in England and Wales. The IRIS programme has already proven effective in enhancing general practice responses to DVA among women. However, uncertainty persists regarding interventions for men and children. IRIS+ steps in to fill this gap, providing GP training, care pathways and specialist domestic abuse advocacy support for all family members experiencing or perpetrating DVA.
"If effective and cost-effective, IRIS+ could significantly improve the safety, wellbeing, and health of DVA survivors and their children. Future implementation of a successful intervention could create large downstream economic benefits for the NHS and society."
Medina Johnson, CEO of IRISi, added: "In a landscape in which public funding is increasingly limited and decision-makers prioritise evidence-based outcomes, we are excited to be involved in this new clinical trial. By acknowledging and addressing the diverse needs of all individuals impacted by DVA, we underscore our dedication to equity and equality in healthcare provision and, above all, to increasing early identification to prevent the escalation of abuse."
The study, a cluster-randomised controlled trial, will begin in May 2024 and run until the end of 2027. It will compare outcomes in IRIS+ practices with outcomes in IRIS practices over the study period.
