Seeing Beyond the Eating Disorder: The Complexities of Eating Disorder Care in New Brunswick, Canada

Abstract

Health professionals struggle in caring for individuals with eating disorders, especially in New Brunswick, Canada where there is no recognized eating disorder treatment center. Using a narrative approach, this study explored the perceptions and experiences of professionals from seven regulated health professions that are most commonly involved in eating disorder care-medicine, dentistry, nursing, social work, occupational therapy, dietetics, and psychology. The findings bring to light the complexities of eating disorder care and the process that professionals go through in seeing beyond the eating disorder to understanding the often subtle subtexts that impede eating disorder identification and treatment. Looking at eating disorder care from an interprofessional perspective provides unique insight into common needs and challenges of practitioners and may ultimately inform treatment and prevention initiatives.