title: Exploring barriers and facilitators in eating disorders treatment among Latinas in the United States.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore facilitators and barriers that may contribute to, or prevent, the engagement and retention of Latinos in eating disorders (EDs) treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The main objective of this investigation was to explore more fully the facilitators and barriers that may contribute to or prevent the engagement and retention of Latinos/as in EDs treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative design based on grounded theory was used to guide in-depth interviews with 5 Latinas (mean age 31.2 years) with history of EDs and with 5 Latino mental health providers (mean age 36.4 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six main themes were found in the discussion with patients and mental health providers: immigration stress, treatment experience in the U.S., facilitators of help seeking, barriers to help seeking, treatment needs, and facilitators of treatment retention. For patients, lack of information about EDs and lack of bilingual treatment were identified as practical barriers. Other emotional factors such as stigma, fear of not being understood, family privacy and not being ready to change were identified as barriers to seeking help. Among facilitator factors that encouraged patients to seek help, the most salient were the perception of the severity of the ED and emotional distress. For treatment retention, family support was a key element among patients. For providers, offering short-term treatment and directive treatment were seen as relevant factors for treatment retention in Latinos.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A culturally sensitive intervention model for Latinas with EDs in the U.S. is discussed addressing four levels: patient; family; providers; and system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.
authors.forename: Mae Lynn
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Reyes-Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.
authors.forename: Juanita
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramírez
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.
authors.forename: Kendra
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, California State University, Sacramento, CA.
authors.forename: Kesha
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Patrice
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC ; Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.
authors.forename: Cynthia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bulik
keywords: Latinas; eating disorders; treatment barriers; treatment facilitators; treatment retention
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