Abstract
Background
In contrast to evidence for interventions supporting victim/survivors of domestic violence and abuse (DVA), the effectiveness of perpetrator programmes for reduction of abuse is uncertain. This study aims to estimate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a perpetrator programme for men.
Methods
Pragmatic two-group individually randomised controlled trial (RCT) with embedded process and economic evaluation. Five centres in southwest England and South Wales aim to recruit 316 (reduced from original target of 366) male domestic abuse perpetrators. These will be randomised 2:1 to a community-based domestic abuse perpetrator programme (DAPP) or usual care comparator with 12-month follow-up. Female partners/ex-partners will be invited to join the study.
The intervention for men comprises 23 weekly sessions of a group programme delivered in voluntary sector domestic abuse services. The intervention for female partners/ex-partners is one-to-one support from a safety worker. Men allocated to usual care receive no intervention; however, they are free to access other services. Their partners/ex-partners will be signposted to support services.
Data is collected at baseline, and 4, 8 and 12 months’ follow-up. The primary outcome is men’s self-reported abusive behaviour measured by the Abusive Behaviour Inventory (ABI-29) at 12 months. Secondary measures include physical and mental health status and resource use alongside the abuse measure ABI (ABI-R) for partners/ex-partners and criminal justice contact for men.
A mixed methods process evaluation and qualitative study will explore mechanisms of effectiveness, judge fidelity to the intervention model using interviews and group observations.
The economic evaluation, over a 1-year time horizon from three perspectives (health and social care, public sector and society), will employ a cost-consequences framework reporting costs alongside economic outcomes (Quality-Adjusted Life Years derived from EQ-5D-5L, SF-12 and CHU-9D, and ICECAP-A) as well as the primary and other secondary outcomes.
Discussion
This trial will provide evidence of the (cost)effectiveness of a DAPP. The embedded process evaluation will further insights in the experiences and contexts of participants and their journey through a perpetrator programme, and the study will seek to address the omission in other studies of economic evaluations.
Trial registration
ISRCTN15804282, April 1, 2019
In contrast to evidence for interventions supporting victim/survivors of domestic violence and abuse (DVA), the effectiveness of perpetrator programmes for reduction of abuse is uncertain. This study aims to estimate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a perpetrator programme for men.
Methods
Pragmatic two-group individually randomised controlled trial (RCT) with embedded process and economic evaluation. Five centres in southwest England and South Wales aim to recruit 316 (reduced from original target of 366) male domestic abuse perpetrators. These will be randomised 2:1 to a community-based domestic abuse perpetrator programme (DAPP) or usual care comparator with 12-month follow-up. Female partners/ex-partners will be invited to join the study.
The intervention for men comprises 23 weekly sessions of a group programme delivered in voluntary sector domestic abuse services. The intervention for female partners/ex-partners is one-to-one support from a safety worker. Men allocated to usual care receive no intervention; however, they are free to access other services. Their partners/ex-partners will be signposted to support services.
Data is collected at baseline, and 4, 8 and 12 months’ follow-up. The primary outcome is men’s self-reported abusive behaviour measured by the Abusive Behaviour Inventory (ABI-29) at 12 months. Secondary measures include physical and mental health status and resource use alongside the abuse measure ABI (ABI-R) for partners/ex-partners and criminal justice contact for men.
A mixed methods process evaluation and qualitative study will explore mechanisms of effectiveness, judge fidelity to the intervention model using interviews and group observations.
The economic evaluation, over a 1-year time horizon from three perspectives (health and social care, public sector and society), will employ a cost-consequences framework reporting costs alongside economic outcomes (Quality-Adjusted Life Years derived from EQ-5D-5L, SF-12 and CHU-9D, and ICECAP-A) as well as the primary and other secondary outcomes.
Discussion
This trial will provide evidence of the (cost)effectiveness of a DAPP. The embedded process evaluation will further insights in the experiences and contexts of participants and their journey through a perpetrator programme, and the study will seek to address the omission in other studies of economic evaluations.
Trial registration
ISRCTN15804282, April 1, 2019
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 617 |
| Journal | BMC Trials |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 28 Sept 2023 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This project is part of the REPROVIDE programme (Reaching Everyone Programme of Research On Violence in diverse Domestic Environments, a programme of research funded by the National Institute for Health Research Programme Grants for Applied Research Programme (PGfAR) (project number RP-PG-0614-20012). The views and opinions expressed therein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the PGfAR Programme, NIHR, NHS or the Department of Health and Social Care.
Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank the Bristol North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board for hosting this research. We would also like to thank members of the REPROVIDE programme executive, independent steering committee, data monitoring and ethics committee, advisory group and public and patient involvement groups for their invaluable contributions to the design and conduct of the study. Not commissioned.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.
Research Groups and Themes
- HEHP@Bristol
- BTC (Bristol Trials Centre)