McMaster, C.M., Wade, T., Franklin, J. et al. (2 more authors) (2022) Impact of patient characteristics on clinicians’ decisions to involve dietitians in eating disorder treatment. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 35 (3). pp. 512-522. ISSN 0952-3871
Abstract
Background & Aims
Dietetic involvement in eating disorder (ED) treatment is often initiated by other members of a patient’s treating team. This study aimed to examine the impact of patient characteristics on clinicians’ decisions to involve a dietitian in a patient’s ED treatment, as well as the influence of clinician characteristics on their decision-making.
Methods
ED clinicians were recruited to complete an online survey, which used case vignettes to assess their likelihood of referring patients to a dietitian or consulting with a dietitian for guidance. Questions were also included measuring clinician anxiety, beliefs about the therapy they deliver, beliefs about dietitians and views on evidence-based practice, to determine if these were related to their responses to case vignettes.
Results
Fifty-seven clinicians completed the survey, with the largest group being clinical psychologists (n=22, 39%). ED diagnosis, weight status, medical co-morbidities and progress in treatment were all shown to be influential on whether clinicians involved dietitians in ED treatment. Clinician characteristics and their beliefs about dietitians were generally not correlated with the likelihood of seeking dietetic input.
Conclusions
This study indicates that clinicians’ decisions to involve dietitians in ED treatment are systematic rather than random decisions influenced by individual clinician characteristics. Clinicians require further education on the potential for malnutrition regardless of patients’ED diagnosis or weight status, and the dietitian’s role in addressing this.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2021 The British Dietetic Association Ltd. This is an author-produced version of a paper subsequently published in Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | feeding and eating disorders; dietetics; clinical decision-making; evidence-based practice; malnutrition |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Science (Sheffield) > Department of Psychology (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 04 Jan 2022 09:23 |
Last Modified: | 10 Feb 2023 01:13 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Wiley |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1111/jhn.12980 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:181908 |