IRIS-PH
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Testing a new model of integrated care: the NHS Practitioner Health (PH) 'Identification and Referral to Improve Safety' (IRIS) advocacy and support intervention for the secondary prevention of domestic abuse in an underserved group (IRIS-PH)
IRAS ID
366495
Contact name
Sandi Dheensa
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bristol
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 30 days
Research summary
**Background**
Forty-two percent of female healthcare workers globally have experienced domestic abuse, which harms mental and physical health. Abuse often affects work, yet most healthcare staff do not seek help due to fears around confidentiality, career consequences, and stigma. The NHS expects staff to identify abuse in patients. But little support is available for staff themselves. NHS Practitioner Health (NHSPH) is a confidential primary care service. Its patients are healthcare professionals experiencing mental health and/or addiction issues.Our study will adapt an evidence-based domestic abuse intervention called IRIS (Identification and Referral to Improve Safety) for NHSPH. IRIS involves a 'domestic abuse advocate-educator' being hired to work with a healthcare service.
The advocate-educator trains staff and supports them to care for affected patients, and provides one-to-one advocacy
to patients. In our study, some patients will not receive advocacy and will receive support from trained NHSPH staff
instead. NHSPH and the advocate-educator will decide which patient gets what support.**Aim**
We will adapt the IRIS intervention for, and pilot test it in, NHSPH. Our research questions are: is the intervention acceptable for NHSPH patients and staff?
Is the intervention inclusive—that is, does it work differently for different patients and staff?
Could advocacy affect changes in patients’ mental health, ability to work, and safety?
And is the intervention potentially cost-effective?**Research plan**
We will analyse observations of staff training, interviews or focus groups with trained staff, and interviews with patients who disclose domestic abuse—whether they are offered advocacy or not. We will also analyse routine data that
NHSPH collects about patients demographics (e.g., age, ethnicity), their mental health and working status, alongside additional quality of life and safety information. We will bring our analyses together to answer our research questions.REC name
North East - Tyne & Wear South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/NE/0084
Date of REC Opinion
18 May 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion