My Research

To address treatment access barriers for rural individuals with eating disorders, it is important to explore rural provider's knowledge and training on eating disorders along with their eating disorder screening, referral, and treatment practices. In our study, we asked providers in a rural state to complete a brief survey on eating disorder knowledge, training, and practices. Majority of respondents were Clinical Mental Health Counselors. Most (65%) of providers did not identify eating disorders in the top two for highest mortality rates of all psychiatric disorders (opioid use disorder is number 1 and eating disorders are number 2). Almost half of providers reported 0-4 training hours on eating disorders and majority stated they were dissatisfied with their previous eating disorder training. Most providers screen for mental health concerns, but do not see eating habits and body image as part of mental health screenings. Few providers (5%) are routinely screening for eating disorders in their practice. Over half of providers reported that they know where to refer someone with an eating disorder; however, 24% reported they would refer someone with an eating disorder to weight management treatment. Finally, only 24% reported treating individuals with eating disorders and identified that insufficient or lack of eating disorder training and seeing eating disorders as outside of their scope of practice or as a specialty concern were the two most common barriers to treating eating disorders. Overall, eating disorder training, knowledge, screening, and treatment practices are low among rural providers. We recommend that training on eating disorders and weight stigma are needed across healthcare professions and eating disorders need to be seen as part of generalize practice to increase access to care.