Attitudes and knowledge levels of nurses and residents caring for adolescents with an eating disorder

• Published in: International journal of adolescent medicine and health Vol. 26; no. 1; pp. 131 - 136
• Main Authors: Raveneau, Gladys, Feinstein, Ronald, Rosen, Lisa M., Fisher, Martin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany De Gruyter 01.02.2014; Walter de Gruyter GmbH
• Subjects: adolescents; Adult; Attitudes; Children & youth; Eating disorders; Emergency medical care; Feeding and Eating Disorders - nursing; Feeding and Eating Disorders - psychology; Feeding and Eating Disorders - therapy; Female; Females; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Hospitalization; Humans; Internship and Residency; Knowledge; Male; Medicine; Nurses; Nursing care; Nursing Staff, Hospital; Patient Care - methods; Patients; pediatric residents; Pediatrics; Pediatrics - education; Polls & surveys; Questionnaires; Teenagers; Workforce planning; Young adults
• ISSN: 0334-0139; 2191-0278
• DOI: 10.1515/ijamh-2013-0015

Although the vast majority of youths with an eating disorder (ED) are treated as outpatients, some require treatment in an inpatient unit. The purpose of this study was to determine the attitudes of nurses and pediatric residents towards adolescents and young adults with ED. Nursing questionnaires were distributed through a nurse manager and resident questionnaires were distributed in coordination with the chief residents. A total of 82 individuals (32 nurses and 50 pediatric residents) completed the survey. Only two nurses and six residents had not worked with a patient with an ED in the previous year. The vast majority of nurses and residents recognized that fear of gaining weight, refusal to maintain body weight and, disturbed body image were frequent signs occurring in patients with an ED. Both nurses and residents believed that emotional problems, influence of friends and family, family pressure, influence of the media, and being self-induced were the most likely causes of EDs. Genetics and influence of other medical problems were deemed less likely causes. The majority of residents identified having different rules for different patients and poor communication as factors that make it difficult to take care of ED patients. More than half of all nurses and residents (58.2%) thought that ED patients were responsible for their disease “always” or “in most cases”. Residents (68.8%) were more likely than nurses (45.2%) to frequently feel frustrated with ED patients (χ , p<0.0370). Adolescents with an ED provide a unique challenge to nurses and residents caring for them.