Fathers' impact on outcomes in the treatment of eating disorders: A scoping review.

OBJECTIVE: Male caregivers' participation in eating disorder (ED) treatment for their affected children is less consistent than female caregivers', with unclear effects. To clarify the impact, this scoping review examined literature on male caregiver involvement in ED treatment, focusing on its impact on fathers, treatment processes, and their affected children. METHODS: A search encompassing English and French peer-reviewed articles from 1990 to 2022 was conducted. Studies distinguishing between mothers and fathers, addressing Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or International Classification of Diseases ED diagnoses, and involving active interventions were included. From 1651 initially identified articles, 251 were retained after abstract and title review, and 45 met all criteria. RESULTS: Documented outcomes indicated fathers' engagement in ED treatment improved their well-being and family functioning, but these gains were not consistently tied to treatment outcomes. Father attendance, improved caregiving skills, and their expectations of treatment correlated with better outcomes for their affected child. CONCLUSIONS: Father involvement in ED treatment remains under-explored. This review emphasises fathers' positive impact while highlighting the need to better understand the link with overall patient outcomes. We call for proactive exploration of how to surmount barriers to fathers' involvement and ensure that paternal contributions are optimised in ED treatment alongside those of female caregivers.

A study protocol for implementing Canadian Practice Guidelines for Treating Children and Adolescents with Eating Disorders.

BACKGROUND: Eating disorders have one of the highest mortality rates among psychiatric illnesses. Timely intervention is crucial for effective treatment, as eating disorders tend to be chronic and difficult to manage if left untreated. Clinical practice guidelines play a vital role in improving healthcare delivery, aiming to minimize variations in care and bridge the gap between research and practice. However, research indicates an active guideline implementation approach is crucial to effective uptake. METHODS: Mixed methods will be used to inform and evaluate our guideline implementation approach. Semi-structured focus groups will be conducted in each of the eight provinces in Canada. Each focus group will comprise 8-10 key stakeholders, including clinicians, program administrators, and individuals with lived experience or caregivers. Qualitative data will be analyzed using conventional content analysis and the constant comparison technique and the results will be used to inform our implementation strategy. The study will then evaluate the effectiveness of our implementation approach through pre- and post-surveys, comparing changes in awareness, use, and impact of the guidelines in various stakeholder groups. DISCUSSION: Through a multifaceted implementation strategy, involving the co-creation of educational materials, tailored training, and context-specific strategies, this study intends to enhance guideline uptake and promote adherence to evidence-based practices. Our study will also contribute valuable information on the impact of our implementation strategies.