Turning the TIDE: Paediatric Provider Perspectives on Implementing a Transition Intervention for Eating Disorders

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Specialised paediatric eating disorder (ED) programs face challenges in managing patient transitions to adult services.
• Existing transition protocols may not adequately address the complex needs of adolescents with EDs.
• A need exists for structured interventions to support youth transitioning from paediatric to adult ED care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore paediatric providers' views on the acceptability, feasibility, and appropriateness of the Transition Intervention for Eating Disorders (TIDE).
• To gather insights for refining and implementing TIDE in real-world paediatric ED settings.
• To inform the development of effective transition strategies for youth with eating disorders.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative Description study conducted in Ontario paediatric ED programs.
• Virtual focus groups held with clinicians and administrative staff.
• Inductive analysis of transcripts using conventional content analysis.

Main Results:

• Twenty-four staff from five programs participated, viewing TIDE as valuable for unmet transition needs.
• Providers supported TIDE components but stressed tailoring to developmental readiness, family structures, and local contexts.
• Feasibility concerns included staffing, time, and coordination; willingness to implement selected components was noted.

Conclusions:

• TIDE is a promising framework, but successful implementation hinges on contextual adaptation and organizational support.
• Flexible delivery preserving core TIDE functions can enhance scalability and improve care continuity.
• Addressing provider-identified barriers is crucial for effective integration of TIDE into ED services.