MS, domestic violence and abuse: a toolkit
Dr Shruthi Venkatachalam is a post-doctoral research fellow at the University of Leeds. She tells us about her work to help people with MS who experience domestic violence and abuse.
My work is part of the MS Domestic Violence and Abuse Research Initiative. This emerged to improve the help offered to people with MS experiencing domestic violence and abuse (DVA). My role is to transform key findings from two PhD studies into a practical toolkit for healthcare professionals. We want to create meaningful, positive change.
Initial findings
The first PhD project looks at the experiences of women with MS who experienced DVA. The second PhD investigates the views and experiences of healthcare professionals supporting people with MS who experience DVA.
Early findings from the two PhD research projects have confirmed that some people with MS are subjected to various forms of DVA, including coercive control, physical abuse, economic abuse and sexual abuse.
The findings also emphasise that people with MS often see their MS clinicians as a trusted source of support for disclosing their experiences of DVA.
Clinicians' views
MS clinicians in our study believe they hold an important duty of care in supporting their patients if they share their experience of DVA.
But clinicians suggested that they often lacked the resources to help them respond effectively and safely. This is especially important when considering the specific challenges that might present within the MS clinical setting. To address this, the toolkit aims to improve the support resources in MS healthcare.
A toolkit for health providers
I’m currently developing a toolkit to help support MS clinicians in recognising and responding to signs of DVA in their patients. It’ll offer practical guidance for health providers, including:
- How to identify signs of DVA during medical appointments
- Guidance on the right questions and approach when domestic abuse is suspected
- Proper referral and signposting procedures when disclosures are made
Why MS healthcare professionals are crucial
MS healthcare professionals often have a good relationship with people with MS due to frequent medical appointments. During medical consultations, MS patients are likely to share sensitive information about their health, including their sexual health and problems relating to their bladder and bowels.
When questions on DVA are routinely asked during appointments, people with MS are offered a safe space to disclose and access support in a familiar environment.
Looking ahead
Every person with MS deserves to live free from fear and abuse. We are working towards a healthcare system that views an individual with MS as a whole person, not just as a patient in need of medical treatment.
As we move forward, we will continue to collaborate with MS professionals, DVA specialists, and, most importantly, people with MS to ensure our toolkit meets their needs.
Would you like to be involved?
We’re currently looking for people with MS who are interested in this topic and would like to provide feedback and help us strengthen our toolkit. We welcome volunteers with or without experience of DVA.
If you're interested in this opportunity, please get in touch at [email protected]
Together, we can work towards better support for all members of the MS community affected by domestic violence and abuse.
