Objective
This qualitative study examined the experience of parents of children and adolescents with eating disorders after having participated in a skills-based training intervention.
Method
Participants were interviewed and transcripts were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.
Results
Parent responses were organised around key themes of (1) effectiveness and acceptability of the intervention; (2) interpersonal experience of the group process; and (3) feedback on intervention content. Overall, the program was seen by parents to be highly relevant with direct application to supporting their child in home and hospital environments.
Discussion
This study reports on preliminary evidence that skills-based training is acceptable to parents and improves parent functioning including parent self-efficacy, and reduces psychological distress, anxiety, and burden. The study also demonstrated that the intervention can be delivered in a tertiary paediatric treatment setting and it may become cost-effective method for supporting parents and other carers. Future research is required on treatment efficacy and patient outcomes.
This abstract was presented in the Parental Roles in Prevention and Support stream of the 2014 ANZAED Conference.