Care provider training: Dysregulation in eating disorders and management

To understand how e-learning modules affect health care providers' (HCP) confidence in managing emotional distress among adolescents hospitalized for eating disorders (EDs).

Paediatric HCPs completed e-modules outlining approaches to managing emotional distress in adolescents with EDs. Participants completed premodule and postmodule mixed method surveys. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon signed-rank test and content analysis.

Sixteen participants completed surveys. Participants reported lacking confidence when caring for adolescents with EDs. Participants rarely (1/15) received training on meal support or distress management. After module completion, there was a significant increase in perceived confidence in managing distress (r = 0.16, P = 0.005), meal support (r = 0.11, P = 0.002) and caring for patients (r = 0.12, P = 0.034).

Results of this study support that e-modules are perceived as an effective method of education for providers caring for adolescents with EDs. This pilot data can be used to develop emotional distress e-learning across care locations and disciplines.