The AIM Study

Study Title: The implementation of an advocacy intervention for diverse women in midlife and older experiencing intimate partner violence: Effectiveness and experiences of participants and community-based researchers  

Study Purpose: To test the effectiveness of the Advocacy Intervention for women in Midlife and older who experience intimate partner violence (IPV), or the AIM Program, and to learn from the experiences of those who facilitated and participated in the program.

What is the AIM Program?

The AIM Program is a health promotion program designed to support and empower midlife and older women who are in the process of leaving an abusive relationship. The AIM Program is a virtual intervention that consists of an information-sharing session and social support sessions. The information-sharing session is a one-hour session for providing information and resources to participants. Content includes information on the dynamics of abusive relationships, safety planning, goal setting, and local IPV resources. The social support sessions are provided over a 12-week period and are designed to provide support and encouragement to participants that is tailored to their unique needs.

Who are the participants?

Women from the Maritime provinces (NS, NB, PE) who are middle-aged or older (45+ years), who were in the process of leaving an abusive relationship or had recently left an abusive relationship (within 1 year).

We used the term “intimate partner violence” (IPV) to refer to any type of abusive behaviour (e.g., emotional, verbal, physical, sexual, or financial) that occurs between intimate partners, including spouses, common-law partners, or partners in a dating relationship.

Who delivered the AIM Program?

Program facilitators were trained to deliver the AIM Program. Facilitators were professionals from the Maritimes who had experience in delivering IPV-related services and social programs to vulnerable populations. Facilitators had educational backgrounds in counselling and social work. Facilitators participated in a two-hour training session to deliver the AIM Program to participants.

What is the study design?

The AIM Study is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with a qualitative component. In this study, participants had a 50% chance of being randomly allocated to receive the intervention (AIM Program) or a 50% chance of being randomly allocated to the control group. Participants in the intervention group participated in the AIM program with a facilitator from their local region and were invited to take part in an interview upon finishing the Program. Participants in the control group received an information package via email. For more information on the study, read our study protocol: JMIR Research Protocols - The Implementation of the Advocacy Intervention for Midlife and Older Women Who Have Experienced Intimate Partner Violence: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

How were outcomes measured?

Study participants completed surveys at baseline and at a 3-month and 9-month follow-up. The surveys measured physical and mental health scores, the use of IPV-related safety behaviours and strategies, perceived social support, and women’s experiences of feeling fearful and controlled by their partner.

Study Partners and Collaborators