BETTER MAN project: Tailored early online intervention for men using intimate partner violence

Background

Domestic violence damages the health of families, particularly women and children. We aim to make all families safer by generating new knowledge from a world-first trial of a healthy relationship website (BETTER MAN). This website assists men to identify their use of abuse and violence early and motivate them to seek help. We will tailor their help-seeking response to their individual experiences. We will have the safety, health and wellbeing of women and children as our focus in this work.

Aim

The project aims to test the effectiveness of our healthy relationship website, BETTER MAN, for men in the community who use intimate partner violence (IPV). The online intervention applies motivational interviewing techniques to increase men’s engagement with help-seeking through a helpline (Men’s Referral Service) and referrals to men’s behaviour change programs and other counselling services. Secondly, we need to understand the underlying mechanisms for change for men who use IPV, in particular for diverse men from migrant backgrounds, and those who have male partners.

Methods

Part A involves a randomised controlled trial and Part B is a longitudinal qualitative sub-study.

Significance

Outcomes are that we would have an entirely new way of addressing men who use IPV and assisting them to seek help. The theory- and evidence-informed website to assist men to reduce use of IPV could be scaled up for national/international delivery. Further, we will know if it is acceptable, has efficacy and is cost-effective to inform future implementation. Evidence to inform policy and practice about responding to IPV in community and health settings is urgently needed.

Funding Body

National Health and Medical Research Council (Project ID: 2000952)

Funding Budget

$506,202

Project start date

March 2021

Expected completion date

December 2023