ADViSE Evaluation
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluating ADViSE to Support Sexual Health Clinicians to Respond to Domestic Violence and Abuse and Sexual Violence
IRAS ID
340569
Contact name
Jeremy Horwood
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bristol
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 30 days
Research summary
Sexual health and gynaecological problems are the most prevalent and persistent physical health consequence of Domestic Violence and Abuse (DVA) and Sexual violence (SV). DVA is associated with increased sexual risk taking resulting in increased sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy. Sexual health clinicians are trusted by their patients with highly confidential, potentially stigmatising information and are adept at working in diverse and vulnerable groups, who may not access other health care services.
ADViSE (Assessing for Domestic Violence and Abuse in Sexual Health Environments) supports sexual health clinicians identify and respond to patients affected by DVA/SA and provides them with a simple referral pathway to specialist DVA/SA services.
ADViSE comprises of staff training on DVA and SV, including how to ask the right questions and how to respond to disclosures according to a clear, local referral pathway. Service users who accept a referral to ADViSE are seen on-site by the Advocate Educator (AE) who has been trained in both DVA and SV and employed by Nextlink community organisation who support people who have experiences DVA and SV. The AE provides one-to-one support and, if necessary, can signpost to other organisations.
We conducted a successful pilot of ADViSE in 2015 and now it has been commission in Greater Manchester, London, Bristol and South Gloucestershire.
The impact of implementing ADViSE at Unity (NHS sexual health service in Bristol and South Gloucestershire and part of University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust) will be assessed quantitatively and qualitatively: 1) quantitative analysis of Unity anonymised electronic patient record will understand and quantify numbers of service users asked about and disclosing DVA/SV and accepting a referral to ADViSE, 2) qualitative interviews with sexual health staff (recruited via NHS/Unity) and service users (recruited via Nextlink DVA/SV community organisation) will examine views and experiences of ADViSE.
REC name
South East Scotland REC 01
REC reference
24/SS/0037
Date of REC Opinion
2 May 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion