IRIS+ RCT Trial version 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A primary care system-level training and support programme for the secondary prevention of domestic violence and abuse: a multicentre cluster randomised trial with economic and process evaluation.
IRAS ID
332585
Contact name
Eszter Szilassy
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bristol
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 7 months, 31 days
Research summary
What is the problem?
Domestic abuse affects nine million adults in England and Wales. It damages health with societal costs over £66 billion a year. A large minority of adults and children consulting general practice are experiencing domestic abuse. Survivors are more likely to tell GPs than other professionals. Getting specialist domestic abuse support can improve survivors’ health, quality of life, and safety.What is the aim of the research?
We will assess whether a general practice training and support programme for women, men and children, called IRIS+, works, whether it provides good value for money, and whether it is possible to deliver it at scale. If IRIS+ is effective and cost-effective, the study will inform the commissioning of IRIS+ as a new service. Future implementation of a successful intervention could significantly improve the safety, wellbeing, and health of domestic abuse survivors and their children. This could create large downstream economic benefits for the NHS and society.How will this be achieved?
We will deliver IRIS+ in many general practices in two areas England and Wales. We will assign practices by chance to either take part in standard IRIS (focus on women) or in IRIS+ (expanded focus on women, men, children). We will then test whether IRIS+, compared to IRIS, is effective and cost-effective and whether delivering it on a large scale is possible.
We will:
- compare the number of patient referrals to domestic abuse agencies from IRIS+ and IRIS practices to judge effectiveness
- explore the impact of IRIS and IRIS+ support on health and health-related quality of life using routine NHS and domestic abuse agency data and interviews with adults and older children
- judge whether IRIS+ is good use of public funds
- study the process and effects of delivering IRIS+ in different local contexts.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/YH/0253
Date of REC Opinion
14 Jan 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion