Group to improve relationships for men in substance use treatment
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Feasibility of adapting and delivering the ADVANCE technology enabled intervention to reduce intimate partner abuse by men receiving substance use treatment
IRAS ID
271242
Contact name
Gail Gilchrist
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 8 months, 27 days
Research summary
Intimate partner abuse (IPA) includes physical, sexual, psychological and financial abuse and/or controlling behaviours by a current or ex-partner. IPA impacts negatively on victims’ health. Men who use substances are more likely to have relationship problems and be abusive towards their partners than men who do not. This study will recruit 378 men from substance use treatment in England, Wales and Scotland who have been abusive towards a female current or ex-partner in the past year. Men will be recruited by chance to the ADVANCE group intervention to improve relationships + substance use treatment as usual, or to substance use treatment as usual only. Men have a 2:1 chance of receiving the ADVANCE group consisting of 1 individual pre-group session followed by 13 group sessions. We want to know if the ADVANCE group is any better than usual substance use treatment at improving relationships and reducing IPA. We will also compare the ADVANCE group costs to usual substance use treatment costs. We will explore how the group is delivered and whether men find it acceptable, attend the sessions, and stay in the study. Mens’ current or 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. The substance use treatment staff 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 group. Data on substance use, relationships, IPA, well-being, quality of life and service use will be collected from both men and women at the start and end of the intervention and 12 months from the start of the intervention. The impact on relationships will be explored in more depth with a sub-sample of men and their partners.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Sheffield Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/YH/0445
Date of REC Opinion
7 Feb 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion