RecruitingInterventional

A trial to expand the IRIS (Identification and Referral to Improve Safety) domestic abuse programme to include men, children and young people

This study is about improving how GP practices help people affected by domestic abuse, which harms many adults and children. It compares two programs: the original IRIS program, mainly for women, and IRIS+, which is a new, expanded version that also supports men and children. Researchers want to see if IRIS+ is more effective at helping survivors, improves their health and safety, and offers good value for money. The study will look at how many people are referred to support services, their health, and whether IRIS+ can be used widely across the country. If successful, IRIS+ could significantly improve the well-being of many families and save the NHS money in the long run.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

University of Bristol

Enrolment target

169

Start

01 Feb 2025

Estimated completion

31 Mar 2027

Domestic violence and abuse

What is this study about?

Domestic abuse is a serious problem that affects many adults and children in the UK, deeply impacting their health and safety. People experiencing domestic abuse often trust their GP enough to talk about what's happening. Getting help from specialist domestic abuse services can make a big difference, improving people's health, quality of life, and overall safety.

This study, called IRIS+, is looking at a new way for GP practices to help people. There's already a program called IRIS, which mainly focuses on supporting women. IRIS+ is an expanded version designed to help women, men, and children who are experiencing domestic abuse. The main goal of this research is to find out if IRIS+ works better than the current IRIS program, and if it's a good use of public money.

Researchers will compare how well IRIS and IRIS+ help people by looking at things like how many patients are referred to specialist support and how this support affects their health and well-being. They also want to see if IRIS+ can realistically be put into practice across many GP surgeries. If IRIS+ proves to be effective and cost-efficient, it could become a new, widely available service, helping more people find safety and support.

Key takeaways

This study aims to improve support for domestic abuse survivors through GP practices.
It compares two GP-based support programs: the current IRIS and a new, wider IRIS+.
IRIS+ is designed to help women, men, and children affected by domestic abuse.
Researchers want to know if IRIS+ is more effective and offers better value for money.
The study also looks at how widely IRIS+ could be used across the country.
The findings could lead to better safety and health for many families.

Who may be eligible?

This study involves GP practices, so individual patients aren't directly signing up to be part of the trial in the same way. Instead, the study is working with GP practices that already use, or could use, the IRIS program.

If you are an adult (female or male) or a young person aged 13-16 who has been referred to, or sought help from, a domestic abuse support service through one of the participating GP practices, you might be asked to take part in an interview about your experiences. For young people, a parent or guardian who isn't involved in the abuse would need to agree, and the young person would also need to consent themselves.

However, some people might not be able to take part in these interviews. This includes individuals who might be put at greater risk by participating, those with severe mental health issues that make interviews difficult, or anyone who can't understand the information in English well enough to give proper consent. Also, children under 13 are not included, and if a child participating might cause them distress or increase their risk, they would not be included.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Is my GP practice participating (or eligible) in the IRIS program?
Have I been referred by one of these GP practices to a domestic abuse support service?
Am I an adult or a young person aged 13-16?
If I am a young person, does my non-abusing parent/carer agree for me to participate in an interview?
Can I understand information in English well enough to give my consent and take part in an interview?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

This study involves GP practices, not individuals directly signing up as 'patients' under investigation. If your GP practice is taking part, they will be randomly assigned to either continue with the standard IRIS program or switch to the new IRIS+ program. The study will then observe the overall impact of these programs within the practices.

If you are an adult or young person (aged 13-16) who has accessed domestic abuse support services through one of these participating GP practices, you might be invited to be interviewed about your experiences. These interviews would help researchers understand the impact of the support. The study will run from May 2024 to December 2027, with practices being recruited until early spring 2025.

Potential risks and benefits

The study document does not list specific benefits or risks for individuals taking part in interviews at this stage. However, the overall aim of the IRIS+ program is to improve support and safety for people experiencing domestic abuse, which could lead to better health and well-being. All research involving sensitive topics like domestic abuse is designed with great care to protect participants. You would have the right to withdraw from an interview at any time without giving a reason, and this would not affect any care or support you receive. Your safety and well-being would be the priority.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

Bristol Trials Unit
City only
Bristol, England

Common questions

What is the main goal of this study?

The main goal is to find out if an expanded support program for domestic abuse called IRIS+, which helps men, women, and children, works better and offers better value for money than the current IRIS program.

Who can take part in this study?

GP practices are recruited first. If you are an adult or young person (13-16) referred to domestic abuse services from a participating GP practice, you might be asked to do an interview about your experiences.

What is 'domestic abuse' in this study?

Domestic abuse refers to harm caused by a partner or family member. This study aims to help those experiencing it.

Who is paying for this research?

The study is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), a major public funder of health and social care research in the UK.

When will the study finish?

The study is expected to run from May 2024 to December 2027.

How to find out more

Alison Burns

iris-plus-trial@bristol.ac.uk - Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.