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The Treatment Experience of Anorexia Nervosa in Adolescents from Healthcare Professionals’ Perspective: A Qualitative Study

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  • Yu-Shan Chang

    (Department of Nursing, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 406040, Taiwan
    Department of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung 406040, Taiwan)

  • Fang-Tzu Liao

    (Department of Nursing, Hungkuang University, Taichung 433304, Taiwan)

  • Li-Chi Huang

    (School of Nursing, China Medical University, Taichung 406040, Taiwan
    Department of Nursing, China Medical University Children Hospital, Taichung 404333, Taiwan)

  • Shu-Ling Chen

    (Department of Nursing, Hungkuang University, Taichung 433304, Taiwan)

Abstract

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a serious psychiatric illness with a high mortality rate and a poor outcome. AN in adolescents can be difficult to treat. The prognosis of patients with AN depends highly on how early specialized AN treatment starts. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of healthcare professionals in treating adolescents with AN. A qualitative study approach was conducted. Through semi-structured interviews, 16 healthcare professionals, including 10 nurses, 3 dieticians and 3 physicians from the paediatric ward at a university-affiliated medical centre in central Taiwan, shared their experiences. Recorded interviews were transcribed and analyzed by content analysis. Five themes and ten subthemes were identified: 1. Building a trusting relationship first: (a) spending time to build trust with the client and (b) establishing a relationship with the client’s parents; 2. The key to treatment success: (a) Clients’ awareness of the illness and (b) parents’ support for clients; 3. Consistency of team treatment goals: (a) maintaining stable vital signs and (b) achieving caloric intake; 4. Empowerment with knowledge about anorexia: (a) continuing education for healthcare professionals and (b) interdisciplinary collaborative care; and 5. Using different interaction strategies: (a) the hard approach and (b) the soft approach. In conclusion, the findings will provide important information for healthcare professionals to apply in monitoring the psychological and emotional states of adolescents with AN. The findings indicate that healthcare professionals should invite parents to participate in the treatment, support and guide them in their adolescent care, develop scales of family stress and support for AN in adolescents, develop interventions, and establish an early therapeutic alliance.

Suggested Citation

  • Yu-Shan Chang & Fang-Tzu Liao & Li-Chi Huang & Shu-Ling Chen, 2023. "The Treatment Experience of Anorexia Nervosa in Adolescents from Healthcare Professionals’ Perspective: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-11, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:1:p:794-:d:1021955
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Joel Zugai & Jane Stein‐Parbury & Michael Roche, 2013. "Effective nursing care of adolescents with anorexia nervosa: a consumer perspective," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 22(13-14), pages 2020-2029, July.
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    1. Joel S. Zugai & Jane Stein‐Parbury & Michael Roche, 2018. "The nature of the therapeutic alliance between nurses and consumers with Anorexia Nervosa in the inpatient setting: A mixed‐methods study," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(1-2), pages 416-426, January.

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