Dataset Information

Functions of disordered eating behaviors: a qualitative analysis of the lived experience and clinician perspectives.

ABSTRACT:

Background

One method to improve treatment outcomes for individuals with eating disorders (EDs) may be understanding and targeting individuals' motives for engaging in DE behaviors-or the functions of DE behaviors. The goal of this study was to investigate and categorize the various functions of DE behaviors from the perspectives of adults who engage in DE behaviors and clinicians who treat EDs.

Methods

Individuals who engage in DE behaviors (n = 16) and clinicians who treat EDs (n = 14) were interviewed, and a thematic analysis was conducted to determine key functions of DE behaviors.

Results

Four main functions of DE behaviors were identified by the authors: (1) alleviating shape, weight, and eating concerns; (2) regulating emotions; (3) regulating one's self-concept; and (4) regulating interpersonal relationships/communicating with others.

Conclusions

Differences in participant responses, particularly regarding the relevance of alleviating shape and weight concerns as an DE behavior function, highlight the importance of individualized conceptualizations of DE behavior functions for any given client.

SUBMITTER: Kinnear A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10440936 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Functions of disordered eating behaviors: a qualitative analysis of the lived experience and clinician perspectives.

Kinnear Abbigail A Siegel Jaclyn A JA Masson Philip C PC Bodell Lindsay P LP

Journal of eating disorders 20230821 1

<h4>Background</h4>One method to improve treatment outcomes for individuals with eating disorders (EDs) may be understanding and targeting individuals' motives for engaging in DE behaviors-or the functions of DE behaviors. The goal of this study was to investigate and categorize the various functions of DE behaviors from the perspectives of adults who engage in DE behaviors and clinicians who treat EDs.<h4>Methods</h4>Individuals who engage in DE behaviors (n = 16) and clinicians who treat EDs ( ...[more]

PMID: 37605248

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Project description:BackgroundDue to scarce resources and high demand, priority setting in mental health services is necessary and inevitable. To date, no study has examined priority setting in eating disorder (ED) services specifically. Here, we evaluate the level of consensus and perceived relative importance of factors used to determine patient prioritisation in ED services, amongst clinicians and individuals with lived experience (LE) of an ED.MethodsA three round Delphi study and a ranking task were used to determine the level of consensus and importance. Consensus was defined as > 80% agreement or disagreement. Items that reached consensus for agreement were ranked in order of importance from most to least important. Participants were 50 ED clinicians and 60 LE individuals. Participant retention across rounds 2, 3, and 4 were 92%, 85%, and 79%, respectively.ResultsOver three iterative rounds, a total of 87 statements about patient prioritisation were rated on a 5-point Likert-scale of agreement. Twenty-three items reached consensus in the clinician panel and 20 items reached consensus in the LE panel. The pattern of responding was broadly similar across the panels. The three most important items in both panels were medical risk, overall severity, and physical health deteriorating quickly. Clinicians tended to place greater emphasis on physical risk and early intervention whereas the LE panel focused more on mental health and quality of life.ConclusionsEating disorder services tend to prioritise patients based upon medical risk and severity, and then by the order in which patients are referred. Our findings align in some respects with what is observed in services, but diverge in others (e.g., prioritising on quality of life), providing important novel insights into clinician and LE opinions on waiting list prioritisation in EDs. More research is warranted to validate these findings using multi-criterion decision techniques and observational methods. We hope these findings provide a foundation for future research and encourage evidence-based conversations around priority setting in ED services.

Project description:BackgroundApp-based interventions designed to prevent and treat eating disorders have considerable potential to overcome known barriers to treatment seeking. Existing apps have shown efficacy in terms of symptom reduction; however, uptake and retention issues are common. To ensure that apps meet the needs and preferences of those for whom they were designed, it is critical to understand the lived experience of potential users and involve them in the process of design, development, and delivery. However, few app-based interventions are pretested on and co-designed with end users before randomized controlled trials.ObjectiveTo address the issue, this study used a highly novel design thinking approach to provide the context and a lived experience perspective of the end user, thus allowing for a deeper level of understanding.MethodsIn total, 7 young women (mean age 25.83, SD 5.34, range 21-33 years) who self-identified as having a history of body image issues or eating disorders were recruited. Participants were interviewed about their lived experience of body image and eating disorders and reported their needs and preferences for app-based eating disorder interventions. Traditional (thematic analysis) and novel (empathy mapping; visually depicting and empathizing with the user's personal experience) analyses were performed, providing a lived experience perspective of eating disorders and identifying the needs and preferences of this population in relation to app-based interventions for eating disorders. Key challenges and opportunities for app-based eating disorder interventions were also identified.ResultsFindings highlighted the importance of understanding and identifying problematic eating disorder symptoms for the user, helpful practices for recovery that identify personal values and goals, the role of social support in facilitating hope, and aspects of usability to promote continued engagement and recovery.ConclusionsPractical guidance and recommendations are described for those developing app-based eating disorder interventions. These findings have the potential to inform practices to enhance participant uptake and retention in the context of app-based interventions for this population.

Dataset Information

Functions of disordered eating behaviors: a qualitative analysis of the lived experience and clinician perspectives.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Functions of disordered eating behaviors: a qualitative analysis of the lived experience and clinician perspectives.

Similar Datasets

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