[A project on eating disorders. Increasing of competence within mental health services in treating severe eating...

We describe a two-year education programme for health workers treating patients with eating disorders. The intention of the programme was partly to increase the knowledge and ability of the participants themselves, and partly to spread this knowledge to other health workers not directly involved in the programme. The programme attracted 66 participants. It was composed of theoretical lectures, group supervision, clinical work with patients with eating disorders and individual supervision as needed. Evaluation at the end of the programme showed a greater feeling of competence and more positive attitudes towards treating these particular patients. More than 80% of the participants had supervised other health workers outside the programme, and nearly 50% had held lectures on the treatment of eating disorders.