A Tertiary-Care/Primary-Care Partnership Aimed at Improving Care for People with Eating Disorders

Lea Thaler; Shiri Freiwald; Chloe Paquin Hodge; Émilie Fletcher; Danaelle Cottier; Esther Kahan; Erika Rossi; Myra Piat; Shalini Lal; Mimi Israel; Howard Steiger

doi:10.1007/s10597-018-0290-4

A Tertiary-Care/Primary-Care Partnership Aimed at Improving Care for People with Eating Disorders

Community Ment Health J. 2018 Nov;54(8):1154-1161. doi: 10.1007/s10597-018-0290-4. Epub 2018 Jun 9.

Authors

Lea Thaler^{1

2

3}, Shiri Freiwald⁴, Chloe Paquin Hodge^{4

5}, Émilie Fletcher⁴, Danaelle Cottier⁴, Esther Kahan⁴, Erika Rossi^{4

6}, Myra Piat^{5

7

8}, Shalini Lal^{9

10

11}, Mimi Israel^{4

5}, Howard Steiger^{4

5

12}

Affiliations

¹ Eating Disorders Continuum, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal West Island Integrated University Health and Social Service Centre (IUHSSC), Montreal, QC, Canada. [email protected].
² Psychiatry Department, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. [email protected].
³ Eating Disorders Continuum, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, 6875 LaSalle Blvd, Montreal, QC, H4H 1R3, Canada. [email protected].
⁴ Eating Disorders Continuum, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal West Island Integrated University Health and Social Service Centre (IUHSSC), Montreal, QC, Canada.
⁵ Psychiatry Department, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
⁶ Psychology Department, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
⁷ Douglas Institute Clinical Activities, Knowledge Transfer and Teaching Directorate, Montreal West Island Integrated University Health and Social Service Centre (IUHSSC), Montreal, QC, Canada.
⁸ School of Social Work, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
⁹ School of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
¹⁰ Carrefour de l'innovation et de l'évaluation en santé, Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, QC, Canada.
¹¹ PEPP-Montreal and ACCESS Open Minds, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal West Island Integrated University Health and Social Service Centre (IUHSSC), Montreal, QC, Canada.
¹² Psychology Department, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.

PMID: 29948625
DOI: 10.1007/s10597-018-0290-4

Abstract

We describe the implementation and impact of a province-wide program of knowledge exchange (KE), aimed at developing capacity for the treatment of people with eating disorders (EDs). The program is designed to equip clinicians working in nonspecialized health-care installations with skills to evaluate and treat people with EDs. Trainings were conducted at 21 institutions. The majority of clinicians reported satisfaction with the KE program and indicated that the trainings enhanced their confidence and ability to treat patients with EDs. A subset of clinicians received case supervision with a specialist ED therapist and followed patients with EDs (n = 119). Treated patients showed significant improvements on eating and depressive symptoms, and reported satisfaction with the treatments they received.

Keywords: Anorexia nervosa; Bulimia nervosa; Eating disorders; Knowledge exchange; Knowledge transfer.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Education, Medical, Continuing / methods
Feeding and Eating Disorders / therapy*
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Primary Health Care / methods
Primary Health Care / organization & administration*
Quality Improvement / organization & administration*
Tertiary Healthcare / methods
Tertiary Healthcare / organization & administration*
Young Adult

Grants and funding

261757/CIHR Knowledge-to-Action Grant/International