Is this the ‘new normal’? A mixed method investigation of young person, parent and clinician experience of online eating disorder treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic

Journal of Eating Disorders

Fatema Kassamali¹  Natalie McLaughlin¹  Darren Cutinha¹  Catherine Stewart¹  Anna Konstantellou¹  Mima Simic¹  Rachel Bryant-Waugh¹  Julian Baudinet²  Ivan Eisler² 

[1] Maudsley Centre for Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders, Maudsley Hospital, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, SE8 5AZ, London, UK;Maudsley Centre for Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders, Maudsley Hospital, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, SE8 5AZ, London, UK;Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, SE5 8AF, London, UK;

关键词: Child;    Adolescent;    Online therapy;    Telehealth;    Anorexia nervosa;    Bulimia nervosa;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s40337-021-00429-1

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

IntroductionPrior to the COVID-19 pandemic, research in virtual care for young people with eating disorders was preliminary and implementation rare. This study explored the experience of young people, parents and clinicians when therapy was transitioned to virtual provision as a result of the UK lockdown in March 2020.MethodsA mixed-method approach was used in this study. Online questionnaires that included a mixture of rating (Likert scale) and free-text response questions were completed by 53 young people with any eating disorder, 75 parents and 23 clinicians. Questions focused on the experience of online treatment as well as the impact on engagement, perceived treatment efficacy and preferences around treatment mode in the future. Likert scale questions were analysed using a summary approach. Free-text responses were analysed qualitatively using reflexive thematic analysis.ResultsResponses to rating scale questions indicate satisfaction with treatment, good engagement and ability to manage technology. Young people who had transitioned care, rather than started care virtually in lockdown, rated therapy as less effective. However, individual accounts of experience were more varied. Reflexive thematic analysis of free-text responses identified key themes of 1) Making it work, 2) Home as a therapeutic space, and 3) Disrupted connection and 4) Into the future.ConclusionsThese results have implications for ongoing care during the pandemic and for future implementation of virtual care in the treatment of young people with eating disorders. Particular issues arising are the trade-off between accessibility and therapeutic engagement and depth and need for consideration of equal access to treatment in socially unequal societies.

【 授权许可】

CC BY