Group intervention to reduce IPA by men in substance use treatment
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Feasibility and acceptability of a randomised controlled trial of an integrated group intervention to reduce intimate partner violence perpetration among men receiving treatment for substance use
IRAS ID
242325
Contact name
Gail Gilchrist
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 31 days
Research summary
Intimate partner abuse (IPA) includes physical, sexual, psychological and financial abuse and/or controlling behaviours by a current/ex-partner. IPA impacts negatively on victims’ health. Men who use substances are more likely be abusive towards their partners than men who do not. This study explores whether we can recruit 108 men in substance use treatment who have been abusive towards a partner in the past year to an intervention to reduce IPA, or to substance use treatment as usual. The study will take place in London, Wolverhampton and Bristol. Men have a 50/50 chance of receiving the intervention. The intervention consists of 2-4 individual sessions (depending on individual need) followed by 12 group sessions. We want to know if this new intervention is any better than usual substance use treatment with a keyworker. We will also compare the intervention costs to usual treatment. We will explore whether the intervention can be delivered in substance use treatment and whether men find the intervention acceptable, attend sessions, and stay in the study. Mens’ current/ex-partners will be offered support for IPA, and invited to take part in the study by providing information about their partner’s behaviour and their own well-being. We will evaluate how many of them take up this offer, but estimate that about 76 will take part in the study. The man’s keyworker and the women’s support worker will share information that relates to women’s safety and risk. Women will be updated about their current/ex-partner’s overall progress in the intervention. Data on substance use, relationships, IPA, emotional well-being, quality of life and service use will be collected from both men and women at the start and end of the intervention. It is anticipated that if IPA stops, men’s current/ex-partner’s well-being will improve.
REC name
London - Fulham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/0492
Date of REC Opinion
29 Mar 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion