Tag: domestic abuse

New cancer and domestic abuse toolkit launched

Posted on by capcbristol

Content warning: This article contains information about domestic abuse, which some may find upsetting.

A new toolkit to support cancer professionals to identify and respond to signs of domestic abuse in patients with cancer and their carers is being launched today [26 March]. The toolkit has been developed in partnership with the University of Bristol, Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse, and Macmillan Cancer Support.

Older woman looking pensively out a window
‘a thousand words’ commissioned by Scottish Womens Aid and Zero Tolerance. Copyright Laura Dodsworth

Domestic abuse and cancer are common, and a cancer diagnosis can trigger abusers to escalate their abuse or use new types of abuse. The toolkit has been designed to equip cancer professionals in secondary and tertiary care with an understanding of different types of domestic abuse and cancer-related vulnerabilities, red flags to look out for in the cancer context, and what to do if they suspect someone is experiencing domestic abuse. The toolkit is designed to complement existing domestic abuse training in NHS Trusts.

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£2.2M for clinical trial to improve general practice response to men and children affected by domestic abuse

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A new clinical trial of a general practice programme to improve the identification and referral of men and children affected by domestic abuse begins in May thanks to a £2.2 million National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) award to University of Bristol researchers, in partnership with Oxford University and the social enterprise IRISi.

A family group in a living room. Mother and children sitting unhappily on the floor. Father sitting on a sofa with a drink in hand in the background.

The programme, IRIS+, is an expanded version of the successful IRIS (Identification and Referral to Improve Safety) general practice training and support programme, which has been shown to increase referrals of women experiencing domestic violence and abuse (DVA) to specialist services. IRIS+ broadens the scope of the intervention to include men and children, without diminishing the response to women.

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‘Loneliness loop’ risks trapping young people in repeating cycle of abuse

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A detailed study of intimate partner violence and abuse (IPVA) among young people in the UK has found that a ‘loneliness loop’ risks trapping young people in a repeating cycle of abuse. The University of Bristol-led research, which analysed survey data from 3,000 young people, recommends early intervention to prevent young people from experiencing IPVA.

Collage of images of young men and women of diverse ethnicities.

Approximately one third of young people in the UK have experienced IPVA by the age of 21.

The Medical Research Council-funded research, summarised in a new policy report published by PolicyBristol today [1 February], sought to understand the risk factors which make young people more vulnerable to IPVA. The study also explored the types and frequency of abuse they experience, and their experiences of getting help and support.

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IRIS+ programme extends the health care response to domestic abuse

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Expanding the IRIS (Identification and Referral to Improve Safety) domestic abuse programme to include men and children and young people is both feasible and potentially cost-effective, University of Bristol researchers have found.

Shot of a little girl looking unhappy as her parents argue in the background.

Success in identifying women affected by domestic abuse through IRIS — a specialist domestic violence and abuse (DVA) training, support and referral programme for general practices — is growing. However, men and children and young people are rarely identified and referred for specialist support. Recognising this gap, a study by researchers from Bristol’s Centre for Academic Primary Care has looked at the feasibility of expanding the scope of support to include them.

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Trauma-informed approaches in healthcare: piecemeal implementation needs UK-wide leadership, strategy and evidence

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The implementation of trauma-informed approaches in UK healthcare requires policy commitment, leadership support and a solid evidence base. According to a recent study by researchers at the University of Bristol, these approaches can prevent re-traumatisation in services and improve experiences and outcomes for both patients and staff. The results of the study, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research Bristol Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR BRC), have been summarised for policy makers in a new PolicyBristol report.

Illustration showing a change cycle reading: modfy-transition-transform-shift-adjust.

Traumatic experiences resulting from childhood adversities, domestic abuse, violence, and social injustice can lead to mental and physical illnesses, homelessness, drug and alcohol use, and imprisonment. In England, nearly half of adults have experienced at least one childhood adversity, and up to 29 per cent of women and 13 per cent of men have experienced domestic abuse during their lifetime, costing the UK economy £14 billion annually.

A trauma-informed approach in healthcare recognises that any patient and healthcare staff member may have been affected by trauma. It involves organisational changes that incorporate knowledge about the prevalence and impacts of trauma into healthcare policies and practices. This approach aims to create safe environments, promote physical and emotional safety for all, and prevent re-traumatisation.

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Experiences of support for domestic abuse in UK general practice during the COVID-19 pandemic

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The experiences of patients who sought help in general practice for domestic violence and abuse (DVA) during the COVID-19 pandemic have been revealed in a study by researchers at the Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol.

Mother holds small baby in one arm as she types on a laptop with her other hand.

The study, published in the British Journal of General Practice (BJGP), compared the views of 21 patients (women, men and children) with the views of 13 healthcare professionals (GPs, practice nurses and allied health professionals).

Overall, the study found that general practice played an important role in supporting patients affected by domestic abuse during the pandemic, although this was against a backdrop of concerns of rising numbers of DVA cases and falling referral of cases. Access to services was further hampered by the imposition of lockdown measures and a shift to remote care.

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