Safety
Most survey participants (39/43, 90.7%; control and intervention groups combined) and all interview participants felt that the intervention was safe to use. Many participants mentioned the safety measures—escape button, a pop-up reminding to call 112 (the Dutch emergency telephone number) when in immediate danger, safety instructions, and contact emails sent under the title “Menstrual calendar.” Anonymity through being able to use a nickname was important to them, and they felt that their privacy was ensured by an independent, trustworthy party (university) that provided a shielded space. Knowing that there were fellow survivors who used SAFE also contributed to their sense of safety. Furthermore, some participants discussed circumstantial reasons for why they felt they could use the intervention safely, such as them not living with their abusive partner anymore or thinking that their partner did not know about the intervention (However, a few participants from the survey and interview groups expressed worries about the security of their personal data and data being reported to other people or authorities. An interviewee thought that the escape button could also scare off some women who might feel that their situation is not severe enough and that they do not belong in the target group:If I was still with my ex when I discovered this website then I would’ve been very happy with the escape button. It’s very good that you’ve thought about that but then I also think...Jeez, that’s actually really intense. And maybe that can also, especially for someone who’s in such a relationship, in a way be a mirror to show that the situation is that unsafe.And the way you e-mail [ie, using “menstrual calendar” as e-mail subject], that’s also fantastic. I can imagine it’s necessary. I dealt with someone who controlled me in various ways, also digitally, so this really is a safe way to do it.