Mind the Gap! The eating disorder primary-secondary care interface
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Mind the Gap! An examination of the interface between primary and secondary healthcare for eating disorders
IRAS ID
190554
Contact name
Jacinta O.A. Tan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Swansea University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Eating disorders have the highest mortality of all mental disorders, and greatly affect health. They derail lives, leading to lost potential and high healthcare costs. Evidence suggests prompt diagnosis and early intervention can help people recover; it also halves healthcare costs. However, although general practitioners (GPs) refer patients and provide ongoing care and medical monitoring for these patients, they often feel unequipped to identify and manage eating disorders. Research shows delays before patients seek help, are diagnosed, and obtain the treatment they need after referral to secondary care. The interface between primary (general practice) and secondary (specialist mental health) care is therefore a critical one in the treatment of eating disorders.
This research, developed in partnership with stakeholders, will use mixed methods to examine the magnitude, characteristics and difficulties at this interface relevant to the treatment of eating disorders across the lifespan in Wales.
The research will take 2 years to conduct and consists of three distinct ‘Workpackages’ (WP). WP1 will examine different perspectives of the primary and secondary care interface through qualitative focus groups of sufferers, carers, and primary and secondary healthcare professionals respectively, recruited through the third sector and NHS. WP2 will conduct population-based routine data analysis of the primary and secondary care interface using large all-Wales databanks of patient records using retrospective cohort methods. We will also anonymously link patient data to the SAIL Databank and set up a research database. WP3 will integrate the findings to critique the primary and secondary care interface for eating disorders. Based on the research results, policy recommendations will be developed. We will write a public report and a digital story to take to the Welsh Assembly Cross-Party Working Group for Eating Disorders, to raise awareness and stimulate debate of the issues studied amongst the public, politicians, policymakers and clinicians.
REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/SW/0340
Date of REC Opinion
6 Jan 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion