Perspectives on eating disorders and service provision: A qualitative study of healthcare professionals.
The study examined healthcare professionals' perspectives of eating disorder patients and services. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 healthcare professionals resulting in two themes. First, the practical difficulties of meeting the complex service needs of people with eating disorders were illustrated. Second, staff recognised patient diversity and the consequent need for individualised interventions. Services are frustrated in meeting patient needs due to complex resource limitations, which do not amount only to lack of funding. Rather than eating disordered patients being viewed as 'difficult', as reported in previous qualitative research, they are only difficult in a context of limited resources.
Reid
Marie
M
Psychology Department, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, UK. mreid@qmu.ac.uk
Williams
Sarah
S
Burr
Jennifer
J
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D013222:State Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom