Eating Disorders Advocacy and Collaboration Table

ED-ACT: Gaps and Priorities Survey

In late spring of 2016, a consortium of stakeholders was formed, including eating disorder treatment specialists, counsellors, and health care providers; AHS administration; community organizations dedicated to eating disorders; and those with a lived experience &/or family members of someone with an eating disorder. ED-ACT is committed to addressing gaps in the continuum of care, through advocacy, sharing education and treatment resources, and strengthening the support network for people and families affected by eating disorders in the Calgary area. We are wanting to hear from people with eating disorders, their loved ones, professionals working with people with eating disorders, and administrators, about what you see as the most pressing gaps and priorities. This short survey should take about 10 minutes to complete. Responses are completely anonymous.

Thank you for your help!

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* 1. Please indicate which of the following you perceive to be gaps in Calgary and surrounding area that require attention:

Are there other perceived gaps that require attention?

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* 2. The following are some of the priorities that have been suggested by individuals with eating disorders, family members, and professionals. While all of the needs may be important, some of these actions may be more manageable and offer more immediate results. Others may take more time and resources to accomplish. Our group is hoping to select two or three goals to focus on over the next 7 months. Please indicate how you would prioritize the following goals, with 1 being top priority, and 8 being the least high priority:

Provide education to increase awareness and understanding of eating disorders amongst health care and mental health care professionals

N/A

Promote the use of eating disorder screening tools for physicians and health care/mental health care professionals

N/A

Launch public awareness campaign around eating disorders and where to go for help

N/A

Advocate for increased funding from public and private insurers for services and treatment from specialized dieticians and mental health therapists

N/A

Advocate for a 24/hour dedicated phone line to provide information and support for individuals, family members, and others (e.g. “hope link”)

N/A

Develop navigational support for individuals with eating disorders and their loved ones

N/A

Support planning for intensive community-based treatment

N/A

Develop services for binge eating

N/A

Offer specialized support groups (e.g. for teens, males, middle aged and/or older adults)

N/A

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* 3. Are there other priorities you would suggest that could be accomplished within the next 6 months?

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* 4. Are there other longer term goals, besides those listed in question 2?

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* 5. We would like to know a little bit more about you. Please click on the answer(s) that best describes you.

I have or have had an eating disorder

I have a loved one who has or has had an eating disorder

I am an administrator of an organization serving people with eating disorders

I am a professional currently working with people who are struggling with an eating disorder (and/or their loved ones). If you are a professional, please go to Q6

Other

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* 6. If you are a professional working with individuals with an eating disorder, and/or their loved ones, please indicate your background:

I am a physician

I am a mental health therapist/counsellor/nurse/social worker/psychologist

I am a dietician

I am a physical therapist/personal trainer

Other (please specify)

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* 7. I would rate my level of knowledge about eating disorders as:

minimal. I am just beginning to learn about eating disorders

moderate. I know a fair bit about eating disorders

expert. I have considerable knowledge about eating disorders

	Not a gap/requires no improvement	Somewhat of a gap/could use some improvement	Serious gap/requires improvement	Not sure whether this is a gap or not
Awareness and understanding about eating disorders amongst physicians	Awareness and understanding about eating disorders amongst physicians Not a gap/requires no improvement	Awareness and understanding about eating disorders amongst physicians Somewhat of a gap/could use some improvement	Awareness and understanding about eating disorders amongst physicians Serious gap/requires improvement	Awareness and understanding about eating disorders amongst physicians Not sure whether this is a gap or not
Awareness and understanding about eating disorders amongst health/mental health care professionals	Awareness and understanding about eating disorders amongst health/mental health care professionals Not a gap/requires no improvement	Awareness and understanding about eating disorders amongst health/mental health care professionals Somewhat of a gap/could use some improvement	Awareness and understanding about eating disorders amongst health/mental health care professionals Serious gap/requires improvement	Awareness and understanding about eating disorders amongst health/mental health care professionals Not sure whether this is a gap or not
Public awareness about eating disorders	Public awareness about eating disorders Not a gap/requires no improvement	Public awareness about eating disorders Somewhat of a gap/could use some improvement	Public awareness about eating disorders Serious gap/requires improvement	Public awareness about eating disorders Not sure whether this is a gap or not
Accessible information and support at the earliest signs of disordered eating	Accessible information and support at the earliest signs of disordered eating Not a gap/requires no improvement	Accessible information and support at the earliest signs of disordered eating Somewhat of a gap/could use some improvement	Accessible information and support at the earliest signs of disordered eating Serious gap/requires improvement	Accessible information and support at the earliest signs of disordered eating Not sure whether this is a gap or not
Easy access to early onset treatment	Easy access to early onset treatment Not a gap/requires no improvement	Easy access to early onset treatment Somewhat of a gap/could use some improvement	Easy access to early onset treatment Serious gap/requires improvement	Easy access to early onset treatment Not sure whether this is a gap or not
Access to continued treatment and support for those who have achieved a healthy weight but still struggle with emotional aspects of eating	Access to continued treatment and support for those who have achieved a healthy weight but still struggle with emotional aspects of eating Not a gap/requires no improvement	Access to continued treatment and support for those who have achieved a healthy weight but still struggle with emotional aspects of eating Somewhat of a gap/could use some improvement	Access to continued treatment and support for those who have achieved a healthy weight but still struggle with emotional aspects of eating Serious gap/requires improvement	Access to continued treatment and support for those who have achieved a healthy weight but still struggle with emotional aspects of eating Not sure whether this is a gap or not
Intensive community based services (for example residential treatment or community based day treatment)	Intensive community based services (for example residential treatment or community based day treatment) Not a gap/requires no improvement	Intensive community based services (for example residential treatment or community based day treatment) Somewhat of a gap/could use some improvement	Intensive community based services (for example residential treatment or community based day treatment) Serious gap/requires improvement	Intensive community based services (for example residential treatment or community based day treatment) Not sure whether this is a gap or not
Guidance navigating through systems and services for those with eating disorders and their loved ones	Guidance navigating through systems and services for those with eating disorders and their loved ones Not a gap/requires no improvement	Guidance navigating through systems and services for those with eating disorders and their loved ones Somewhat of a gap/could use some improvement	Guidance navigating through systems and services for those with eating disorders and their loved ones Serious gap/requires improvement	Guidance navigating through systems and services for those with eating disorders and their loved ones Not sure whether this is a gap or not
Affordable access to specialized dieticians and mental health therapists	Affordable access to specialized dieticians and mental health therapists Not a gap/requires no improvement	Affordable access to specialized dieticians and mental health therapists Somewhat of a gap/could use some improvement	Affordable access to specialized dieticians and mental health therapists Serious gap/requires improvement	Affordable access to specialized dieticians and mental health therapists Not sure whether this is a gap or not
Access to acute care beds	Access to acute care beds Not a gap/requires no improvement	Access to acute care beds Somewhat of a gap/could use some improvement	Access to acute care beds Serious gap/requires improvement	Access to acute care beds Not sure whether this is a gap or not
Services for binge eating disorder	Services for binge eating disorder Not a gap/requires no improvement	Services for binge eating disorder Somewhat of a gap/could use some improvement	Services for binge eating disorder Serious gap/requires improvement	Services for binge eating disorder Not sure whether this is a gap or not
Community based meal support (to give family members a break)	Community based meal support (to give family members a break) Not a gap/requires no improvement	Community based meal support (to give family members a break) Somewhat of a gap/could use some improvement	Community based meal support (to give family members a break) Serious gap/requires improvement	Community based meal support (to give family members a break) Not sure whether this is a gap or not
Specialized support groups for males, teens, and different age groups	Specialized support groups for males, teens, and different age groups Not a gap/requires no improvement	Specialized support groups for males, teens, and different age groups Somewhat of a gap/could use some improvement	Specialized support groups for males, teens, and different age groups Serious gap/requires improvement	Specialized support groups for males, teens, and different age groups Not sure whether this is a gap or not
Collaboration between public (AHS) and private (fee for service) providers of care	Collaboration between public (AHS) and private (fee for service) providers of care Not a gap/requires no improvement	Collaboration between public (AHS) and private (fee for service) providers of care Somewhat of a gap/could use some improvement	Collaboration between public (AHS) and private (fee for service) providers of care Serious gap/requires improvement	Collaboration between public (AHS) and private (fee for service) providers of care Not sure whether this is a gap or not
Support for family members and loved ones to better understand their role in recovery	Support for family members and loved ones to better understand their role in recovery Not a gap/requires no improvement	Support for family members and loved ones to better understand their role in recovery Somewhat of a gap/could use some improvement	Support for family members and loved ones to better understand their role in recovery Serious gap/requires improvement	Support for family members and loved ones to better understand their role in recovery Not sure whether this is a gap or not