News

The board game that helps you identify domestic violence and abuse

Nurse lecturer’s learning tool aims to get healthcare staff talking about how they can help
Board game aims to stimulate nurses to identify and discuss domestic violence and abuse

Nurse lecturer’s learning tool aims to get healthcare staff talking about how they can help


Nurse academic Parveen Ali is an expert in the field of interpersonal violence.

A nurse lecturer has developed a board game to help healthcare professionals recognise and respond to domestic violence and abuse.

The Domestic Abuse Training Game was devised to equip staff in health services with the knowledge and confidence to respond to domestic abuse concerns by asking appropriate questions and offering support.

Specialist healthcare training resource

University of Sheffield school of nursing and midwifery senior lecturer, and interpersonal violence research group lead, Parveen Ali, has worked with specialists in health and social care training resources, Focus Games, to develop the idea.

The game, which can be played by between two and 12 players, involves two teams competing to take their playing pieces to a safety zone by providing correct answers to questions and exploring scenarios.


The object of the game is to get your pieces to the safety zone by answering questions
and exploring scenarios.

Dr Ali, who is a nurse, has worked in the field of gender-based and domestic violence and abuse for more than 15 years.

She said the impact and reach of domestic violence and abuse cannot be overestimated.

A public health issue that cuts across gender, sexuality and culture

‘Domestic violence and abuse is a major social and public health issue that affects people of every gender, sexuality, community, culture and country, and according to last year’s crime survey for England and Wales, an estimated two million adults aged 16 to 59 years have been a victim,’ she said.

‘We know healthcare professionals can feel unprepared and lack confidence to ask questions when it comes to approaching topics like domestic violence and abuse with patients.’

The game will be demonstrated at the RCN international nursing research conference between 3-5 September at Sheffield Hallam University.

Dr Ali plans to release new versions aimed at educating healthcare professionals about child and elder abuse.


Related material


In other news

Jobs