Service users' views of eating disorder services: an international comparison.
OBJECTIVE
To perform a United States-United Kingdom cross-national comparison of service users' perspectives on eating disorder (ED) treatments and services.


METHODS
Qualitative, exploratory study. One hundred forty-four US and 150 UK ED service users completed a questionnaire developed by the Academy for Eating Disorders. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis.


RESULTS
Both samples identified the following as essential aspects of care: good therapeutic relationship, holistic approach, individual psychotherapy/counseling, specialized treatment, client-centered care, and support. In the US sample, the main concerns involved lack of financial accessibility to services and problems with insurance coverage. In the UK sample, lack of and inequity of availability of services were highlighted and three main barriers to accessing care were identified.


CONCLUSIONS
US and UK service users' views suggest that neither country provides early intervention and comprehensive care for EDs at present, although due to dissimilar health care systems the barriers to care differ.
Escobar-Koch
Tatiana
T
Section of Eating Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, London, United Kingdom. tescobarkoch@gmail.com
Banker
Judith D
JD
Crow
Scott
S
Cullis
Jan
J
Ringwood
Susan
S
Smith
Gráinne
G
van Furth
Eric
E
Westin
Kitty
K
Schmidt
Ulrike
U
D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D008605:Mental Health Services; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D014481:United States