None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The Women's Emotional Well-Being (WEB) Project aims to test via a randomised controlled trial, a primary care system model for women experiencing domestic and family violence (DFV) to improve women's mental health, safety, support and access to care. The project will recruit 24 general practice clinics (with at least 3 GPs/nurses) trained in delivering appropriate DFV first line responses. From these clinics, 864 women patients who are afraid of their partner, ex-partner and/or family member will be recruited before being randomised to an intervention or comparison group. Women in the intervention group will be offered a funded appointment to see the GP or nurse that includes an online safety assessment and planning, referrals to a peer support worker and DFV services. Women in the comparison group will receive usual care from their GP clinic. We hypothesise that the the intervention will decrease women's distress symptoms and increase helpful referrals, and their sense of empowerment, safety and support.
Interventions
The WEB intervention is a novel model of care for women who report feeling afraid of a partner/ex-partner and/or family member in the last 12 months. All participating clinicians will be trained in addressing domestic and family violence. This will be completed at least 4 weeks prior to the first clinic randomisation at each wave (3 waves in total). Training will total 7.5 hours, including 90 mins x 3 online learning modules, reading 90 mins and workshops x 2 for 90 mins delivered online by a g
The WEB intervention is a novel model of care for women who report feeling afraid of a partner/ex-partner and/or family member in the last 12 months. All participating clinicians will be trained in addressing domestic and family violence. This will be completed at least 4 weeks prior to the first clinic randomisation at each wave (3 waves in total). Training will total 7.5 hours, including 90 mins x 3 online learning modules, reading 90 mins and workshops x 2 for 90 mins delivered online by a general practitioner (GP) and domestic and family violence worker. Eligible women who are randomised to the intervention arm will be offered a funded 30 minute appointment to provide a first line response including a family safety assessment and safety plan (based on standard Victorian government recommended safety assessment and planning) using a Clinical Decision Support System, developed for this study. During this appointment, women will be offered a referral for six one hour consultations with a trained peer support worker over a six-month period, in person or remotely. The peer support workers will be women who have experienced domestic and family violence (DFV) who have previously navigated the service system. They will be recruited and trained at least two weeks before first clinic randomisation, through a series of 4 x 5 hour workshops delivered in person. Training will include outline of peer support sessions, enhancing communication skills and boundary setting, safety issues, services available in the area and worker well-being. The peer support workers will be supported by a local DFV worker. GP/nurses and peer support workers will keep attendance and session checklists. GPs/nurses in the intervention arm will receive one rebate payment of $100 (similar to health assessment item numbers) for each assessment/patient/year. Eligible women will also be offered ongoing support by the GP/nurse and referrals to DFV services as needed. Overall duration of the study will be 3 years post first clinic randomisation.
Sponsors
The University of Melbourne
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
General practices with three or more general practitioners or nurses willing to participate. Clinics will have Medical Director or Best Practice software and >1500 active patients. Woman or trans women aged 18 years or older who have visited the participating clinci at least once in the last 12 months and experienced fear of partner, ex-partner and/or family member in the last 12 months.
Exclusion criteria
n/a
Outcome results
None listed