Perspectives on eating disorders and service provision: a qualitative study of healthcare professionals

Abstract

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 patients needs due to complex resource limitations, which do not amount 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.