Swedish Clinicians' Knowledge, Practices, and Access to Structured Guidance Regarding Maladaptive Exercise in Eating...

Area of Science:

• Clinical Psychology
• Psychiatry
• Eating Disorders Research

Background:

• Maladaptive exercise is a prevalent and serious symptom in eating disorders (EDs).
• Current treatment approaches often inadequately address maladaptive exercise.
• Understanding clinicians' perspectives is crucial for improving care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine ED clinicians' knowledge and practices regarding maladaptive exercise.
• To assess clinicians' access to structured guidance and protocols.
• To identify variations in practices based on profession, experience, and personal exercise habits.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was administered to 102 clinicians in Swedish ED care.
• Data collected included self-reported knowledge, clinical practices, and access to clinic-level protocols.
• Statistical analyses (Fisher's exact test, Spearman correlations) identified group differences.

Main Results:

• Most clinicians acknowledge maladaptive exercise as an aggravating symptom but report limited formal training and moderate confidence in management.
• While assessment is common, structured interventions are rare, with professional variations in opinions.
• Only 42% have access to clinic-level protocols, and 84% desire national guidance.

Conclusions:

• ED clinicians recognize the clinical significance of maladaptive exercise but face challenges due to limited training and inconsistent guidance.
• Profession-specific differences highlight the need for tailored approaches.
• A strong demand for national guidelines indicates a critical need for structured, evidence-based interventions and clinician training.