Development of a new statewide eating disorder service: The role of evidence in a real world setting

There are three aims of this report. First, to describe how research evidence informed a service development rationale for a new statewide eating disorder service (SEDS) for people aged 15 years and older. Second, to examine the profile of people accessing SEDS in the first 2 years of its operation with respect to the three broad dimensions: illness stage, illness severity, and previous history of treatment. Finally, to examine which patient characteristics resulted in the recommendation of ongoing treatment contact with SEDS.

Over a 2-year period (July 2014 to July 2016) 292 people were referred to the service, 171 (59%) who consented to have their data used in research.

Half of the referrals related to anorexia nervosa (AN; 51.2%), with the remainder split between bulimia nervosa (25.3%) and other specified feeding and eating disorders (23.5%); 65.9% had previously received treatment for an eating disorder. The initial information about the service was typically provided by the general practitioner/primary care physician. Compared with any other eating disorder diagnosis, people with AN were three times more likely to be recommended to retain treatment contact with SEDS.

Service development informed by research evidence, clinical expertise, and consideration of patients' characteristics, values, and circumstances, allows for a flexible but accountable development strategy.