Ethnicity and differential access to care for eating disorder symptoms

Abstract

These data suggest that clinician bias may be an important barrier to access to care for eating disorder symptoms in ethnic minority populations.

Disordered eating related behaviors among Arab schoolgirls in Israel: An epidemiological study

“…44 Moreover, a recent study indicated that physicians were significantly less likely to inquire about eating disorder symptoms among ethnic minorities than among nonminority patients. 45 The Arabs in Israel are raised with a fundamental conflict between two very different systems of values and perspectives: Western/modern and traditional. 46 The current results may reflect such a conflicting value system.…”

Behavioral symptoms of eating disorders in Native Americans: Results from the add health survey wave III

“…This single study examined case records from a consecutive series of Indigenous Alaskan patients presenting at a community mental health center. 9 However, given the well documented barriers to seeking care and biases in clinicians' diagnostic assessments, [10][11][12] a clinicbased sample is highly likely to underestimate true prevalence. Only two other studies report data concerning prevalence of symptoms of eating disorders in AI/NA adults, but have limited application to true prevalence estimates in AI/NA communities.…”

“…Only two other studies report data concerning prevalence of symptoms of eating disorders in AI/NA adults, but have limited application to true prevalence estimates in AI/NA communities. For example, one study identified symptoms via the National Eating Disorders Screening Program conducted on US college campuses in 1996 (reported in two separate publications 10,13 ). Data collected during this screening program did not estimate prevalence of specific eating disorders, although it did ask respondents about a previous diagnosis or care for an eating disorder.…”

Inpatients with eating disorders: Demographic, diagnostic, and service characteristics from a nationwide pediatric sample

“…9 Ethnic differences in help-seeking behavior and in physicians' evaluations and referrals for treatment have been reported. 10 Even after controlling for severity of self-reported eating disorder symptoms, Becker and colleagues found that minority women were less likely to seek eating disorder treatment. Further, they found that physicians were less likely to inquire about eating disorder symptoms in minority patients and less likely to refer them for further evaluation.…”

“…Further, they found that physicians were less likely to inquire about eating disorder symptoms in minority patients and less likely to refer them for further evaluation. 10 Cachelin et al, 11,12 found that ethnic minorities were less likely to seek help for an eating disorder, despite an expressed desire for treatment. The most commonly cited reason was financial constraints.…”