(PS12-C65) Current Status and Future Directions: University Programs to Prevent Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Using Bystander Awareness

Federally mandated intimate partner violence (IPV) programs, that promote bystander awareness have been implemented on college campuses nationwide. Despite the popularity of bystander training for witnesses to intercede on behalf of IPV victims, adequate support for this approach is lacking. No systematic quantitative reviews of IPV training programs are sufficiently rigorous to advance these as evidence-based prevention intervention. To address this deficiency our systematic review and meta-analysis of IP bystander programs took a recommended, two-pronged approach. Deficiency. A quantitative meta-analysis of IPV bystander programs using a randomized controlled trial ((RCT) design produced an estimate of program effect size.  A qualitative evaluation of the adequacy of RCT design features suggested the veracity of the empirical findings. This integrated methodology will more accurately suggest the efficacy of IPV bystander awareness programs for university students.

Method

A literature review identified twelve published IPV interventions using bystander awareness that were RCTs. Data was extracted from each study and placed on a coding sheet. The same coders rated the quality of research methodology using the RCTs using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB2).

Analysis and Results

Analyses were performed with Comprehensive Meta-analysis version 3 on all included RCTs. A random effects model showed the pooled Hedges’ ‘g’ across all studies was .50 ([95% CI: .22 to .77]; p = 0.00). This moderate positive effect showed bystander prevention programs increased witnesses’ willingness to intervene for victims of an IPV. The study quality, however, was generally low, often due to small samples sizes, limited blinding, passive comparators, and a lack of conformity to Consolidated Reporting of Trial Standards (CONSORT).

Discussion

This meta-analysis and evaluation of study quality provides some empirical support for IPV prevention programs that use bystander awareness. Although the overall effect size suggests these prevention interventions may be moderately efficacious, the quality of the studies must be improved to ensure such interpretations are valid. More definitive conclusions can only be made with a larger body of RCTS that use a more rigorous methodology.