Atuação da Enfermagem com pacientes acometidos de transtornos alimentares: análise de filmes e documentários / Nursing performance with patients suffering from eating disorders: analysis of films and documentaries / Cuidados de enfermería con pacientes que sufren trastornos alimentarios: análisis de películas y documentales

Objetivo: analisar a atuação da Enfermagem junto a pacientes com transtornos alimentares em filmes sobre o assunto. Método: trata-se de um estudo descritivo-exploratório desenvolvido a partir de dados secundários. Utilizaram-se a base de dados cinematográfica Internet Move Database e descritores em português e inglês, que foram: "anorexia", "bulimia" e/ou "transtornos alimentares". Adotaram-se como critérios de inclusão: criações audiovisuais produzidas entre 1998 e 2020; o conteúdo estar disponível nas plataformas de streaming elencadas; as criações terem áudio e/ou legendas em português; e o filme ter alguma cena com o profissional de Enfermagem. Seis mídias atenderam a esses critérios e foram analisadas a partir de um roteiro que investiga a abordagem da Enfermagem no tratamento dos transtornos alimentares. Para elencar a produção mais indicada para finalidade didática, foram considerados seis critérios objetivos. Resultados: a maioria dos enredos veiculou a Enfermagem de modo estereotipado e com pouca autonomia, além de atribuir uma postura de "mau" ou "bom ajudante do médico" a esses profissionais. Embora nenhum enredo tenha atendido a todos os critérios objetivos de maneira satisfatória, a produção audiovisual que correspondeu à maior parte dos critérios foi aquela indicada para a finalidade didática. Conclusão: as produções, de um modo geral, condizem mais com o modelo médico assistencialista, na qual o enfermeiro desenvolve ações de prevalência tecnicistas, de supervisão e desintegradas da equipe multiprofissional em detrimento do modelo biopsicossocial, o qual demanda raciocínio clínico, pensamento crítico e conhecimento científico fundamentado.(AU)

Objective: to analyze the performance of Nursing with patients with eating disorders in films about the subject. Method: this is a descriptive-exploratory study developed from secondary data. The film database Internet Move Database and descriptors in Portuguese and English were used, which were: "anorexia", "bulimia" and/or "eating disorders". The following inclusion criteria were adopted: audiovisual creations produced between 1998 and 2020; the content is available on the listed streaming platforms; the creations have audio and/or subtitles in Portuguese; and the film has a scene with the Nursing professional. Six media met these criteria and were analyzed based on a script that investigates Nursing's approach to the treatment of eating disorders. To list the most suitable production for didactic purposes, six objective criteria were considered. Results: most plots conveyed Nursing in a stereotyped way and with little autonomy, in addition to attributing a "bad" or "good doctor's helper" attitude to these professionals. Although no plot met all the objective criteria satisfactorily, the audiovisual production that met most of the criteria was the one indicated for didactic purposes. Conclusion: the productions, in general, are more in line with the medical care model, in which the nurse develops actions that are technical, supervisory, and disintegrated from the multidisciplinary team to the detriment of the biopsychosocial model, which demands clinical reasoning, critical thinking and grounded scientific knowledge.(AU)

Objetivo: analizar los cuidados de enfermería frente a pacientes con trastornos alimentarios en películas sobre el tema. Método: se trata de un estudio descriptivo-exploratorio desarrollado a partir de datos secundarios. Se utilizó la base de datos cinematográfica "Internet Move Database" y las palabras clave en portugués e inglés, las cuales fueron: "anorexia", "bulimia" y/o "trastornos alimentarios". Fueron adoptados los siguientes criterios de inclusión: creaciones audiovisuales producidas entre los años 1998 y 2020; el contenido estar disponible en las plataformas de streaming listadas; tener audio y/o subtítulos en portugués; y alguna escena con el profesional de Enfermería. Seis medios cumplieron estos criterios y fueron analizados a...(AU)

Pessoas com transtornos alimentares e isolamento social na pandemia de COVID-19 / People with eating disorders and social isolation in the COVID-19 pandemic

Introdução: Este estudo tem como objeto avaliar as consequências geradas pelas medidas de isolamento social na saúde mental de pessoas com transtornos alimentares atendidas em um ambulatório especializados no município do Rio de Janeiro. Objetivos: descrever características sociodemográficas e clínicas de pessoas com transtornos alimentares em um ambulatório especializado; analisar as consequências da pandemia de COVID-19 na saúde mental de pessoas com transtornos alimentares em acompanhamento ambulatorial; discutir as ferramentas de acompanhamento em saúde mental no período de isolamento social em um ambulatório especializado em transtornos alimentares. Método: Pesquisa descritiva de caráter qualitativo com usuários de 18 a 60 anos diagnosticados com anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa ou transtorno de compulsão alimentar e suas formas subclínicas, em tratamento especializado durante a pandemia de COVID-19. O cenário foi o ambulatório do Grupo de Obesidade e Transtornos Alimentares (GOTA) de um Instituto de Psiquiatria universitário. Foram utilizados dados retrospectivos sobre características clínicas e demográficas dos usuários, coletados nos prontuários clínicos e de entrevistassemi-estruturadas aplicadas de forma remota. Os dados foram analisados através dos softwares ALCESTE e Microsoft Excel 2019 e discutidos a partir da literatura científica sobre o tema. As análises realizadas pelo ALCESTE evidenciaram 4 classes de palavras predominantes, sendo a de impactos socioeconômicos a mais relevante, seguida da classe referente ao suporte profissional em saúde mental recebido durante a pandemia, da classe referente aos impactos na autoestima e autopercepção dos participantes e por fim, da classe referente aos impactos na rotina de alimentação. Resultados: A amostra foi constituída de 16 mulheres com predomínio da cor branca, com faixa etária de 18 à 30 anos, sendo o diagnóstico de transtorno de compulsão alimentar o mais frequente. A pandemia resultou em sensação de perda de controle devido a modificações na rotina, tendo culminado em piora do comportamento alimentar e aumento de mecanismos compensatórios. Em alguns casos, o isolamento social foi considerado pelos participantes como ferramenta para reestruturação emocional. Os impactos socioeconômicos ocorreram de maneira indiferente a estrato social. A introdução do atendimento remoto no serviço foi considerado um fator protetor na manutenção do tratamento, com vantagens como economia financeira e maior flexibilidade de horário. Foram apontadas desvantagens como dificuldade de monitoramento de dados antropométricos e exame físico. Conclusão: Os desdobramentos do isolamento social refletiram em diferentes campos da vida dos participantes, tais como saúde física, mental, convivência intradomiciliar, impactos socioeconômicos e modificações no suporte profissional para o transtorno alimentar. O atendimento remoto foi apontado como uma estratégia promissora para prestação de assistência a esse público, necessitando melhor sistematização para o futuro, com potencial de permanência não somente em períodos pandêmicos. Para os profissionais de saúde, a pesquisa indica que os usuários com transtornos alimentares reconhecem o valor do atendimento no ambulatório, o que requer capacitação e maior participação da enfermagem na equipe interdisciplinar.

Introduction: This research has as aim to evaluate the consequences caused by social restriction measures in the mental health of clients with eating disorders attended in a specialized ambulatory in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Objectives: to describe sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of people with eating disorders in a specialized ambulatory; to analyse the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in the mental health of people with eating disorders; to discuss tools of mental health support during the social isolation in an ambulatory specialized on eating disorders. Methods: Descriptive study with qualitative design including clients between 18-60 years old diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorders and its subclinical presentations in specialized treatment during the pandemic. The place of the study it was the Grupo de Obesidade e Transtornos Alimentares (GOTA) ambulatory of an academic psychiatric institute. It was used restropective data about clinical and demographical characteristics collected of the medical records and it was applied a semi-structured interview by remote mode. Data was analysed by the softwares ALCESTE and Microsoft Excel 2019, and discussed by the cientific literature about the subject. The analysis presented 4 classes of predominant words, within the socioeconomical impacts one being the most relevant, followed by the class referring to the professional mental health support during the pandemic, by the class referring to the impacts on self steem and self perception of the participants and finally, by the class referring to impacts on the food routine. Results: The sample was constituted by 16 women, with white skin color predominance, ages between 18 to 30 years old, with binge eating disorder being the most frequent diagnose. The pandemic resulted in a sense of loss of controle because of changes in the routine, resulting in worsening of food behaviour and increasing in compensatory behaviour. In some cases, social restriction was considered by participants as a tool for emotional reestructuration. The socioeconomical impacts existed regardless of social stratum. The introduction of the remote consultation was considered a protective factor on the treatment maintenance, including benefits such as financial economy and greater time flexibility. It were considered disadvantagens such as difficulty on monitoring anthropometric data and physical examination. Conclusion: The outspread of social restriction reflected in diverse life fields of the participants, such as physical health, mental health, household coexistency and changes on the professional support to eating disorders. The remote consultation was pointed as a promissory strategy to provide assistance to this public, and it needs better systematization to the future, within potential of implementation not only in pandemic periods. To healthcare professionals, the study indicates that users with eating disorders recognize the value of an ambulatory assistance, which requires training courses and a bigger participation of nursing on interdisciplinary teams.

[The experience of caring for people with eating disorders: a qualitative study of nurses' perspectives].

BACKGROUND: Eating disorders (ED) are an increasingly prevalent problem with serious consequences for different spheres of life. This study aims to analyze nurses' perspectives and experiences of the care provided to people diagnosed with an ED. METHODS: Hermeneutical phenomenological qualitative study. Nineteen nurses from Alcalá de Henares (Madrid) collab-orated in the research sharing their experience through interviews and stories, which were recorded, transcribed and analyzed thematically. RESULTS: Three issues were obtained: a fight between the heart and mind, conscious reflection: the body says what the head keeps silent and learning how to care holistically. Nurses experience a struggle with their feelings of transference / countertransference when caring for patients. They set out to combine skills acquired from their experience with new research, without losing sight of the individual and the factors involved (family, society and work), which are key to understand the patient's experience and recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses need more specialization, ongoing training, coordination and teamwork with other professionals to provide people with holistic care. Gender perspectives should be taken into account to enable care to be adapted to the needs of men and women. This study takes an in-depth look at the care relationship between nurse and patient, to obtain a hitherto unknown perspective of care, which makes it possible to expand knowledge and individualize the care provided.

Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Experience of Caregiving Inventory (ECI) among caregivers of individuals with an eating disorder.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Experience of Caregiving Inventory (ECI-S), which is designed to assess the caregiver's appraisal of the impact of caring for a relative with a serious mental illness. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 320 caregivers of a relative with an eating disorder to examine: (a) descriptive statistics; (b) internal consistency reliability; (c) the fit of the original ten-factor structure of the ECI through exploratory factor analysis, using a semi-confirmatory approach, for each subscale individually, and (d) concurrent validity. A total of 307 caregivers completed the scale. RESULTS: Reliability of the ECI subscales scores was acceptable (α = 0.63-0.89). Results replicated the original ten-factor structure of the instrument. The concurrent validity was supported by correlations of the ECI-negative subscale with psychological distress (GHQ-12, 0.43), and with depression and anxiety (HADS, 0.48 and 0.49, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish version of the ECI (ECI-S) demonstrated good psychometric properties in terms of validity and reliability that were similar to the original version. It is an acceptable and valid instrument for assessing the impact on family members of caring for a relative with an eating disorder and can be recommended for use in clinical settings in Spain. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study.

How Do Family Strengths-Oriented Therapeutic Conversations (FAM-SOTC) Advance Psychiatric Nursing Practice?

PURPOSE: Family nursing interventions, focusing on therapeutic conversations, have been found to benefit primary caregivers dealing with chronic and acute illnesses. Less is known, however, about the benefit of these interventions for partner caregivers. The aims of this study were to develop and test the Family Strengths-Oriented Therapeutic Conversation (FAM-SOTC) intervention for partner caregivers of young individuals with eating disorders (EDs). METHODS: Eighteen partner caregivers of adolescents and young adults with ED participated in this quasi-experimental study. The FAM-SOTC intervention was offered over 4 months, during which time the focus was on establishing the therapeutic relationship and identification of the family relationships. The five key elements of the FAM-SOTC intervention are (a) drawing forward illness stories; (b) asking therapeutic questions; (c) identifying strength, resiliency, and resources; (d) offering evidence-based information and recommendations; and (e) strengthening helpful beliefs and challenging hindering beliefs. These elements provided the foundation for the study. FINDINGS: Significantly higher family support and illness beliefs were reported after five sessions of the FAM-SOTC intervention and again after 3 follow-up booster sessions. The FAM-SOTC intervention demonstrated a positive benefit for participants. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The FAM-SOTC intervention was found to benefit families, both in the short and long term, in psychiatry settings. After having participated in five sessions of the FAM-SOTC intervention and 3 booster sessions, partner caregivers of young individuals with ED experienced higher family support and reported better knowledge, more confidence, and more positive illness beliefs regarding the disorder.

Exploring nurses' and patients' perceptions of hope and hope-engendering nurse interventions in an eating disorder facility: A descriptive cross-sectional study.

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Individuals with eating disorders (EDs) experience hopelessness, suicidal thoughts and behaviours at elevated rates compared to the general population. Current knowledge of recovery from EDs does not address nurse engendered hope. This study aimed to explore differences between patients' and nurses' perceptions of hope-engendering nurse actions and the relationship actions have with patients' perception of hope. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: This is the first study to explore differences between patients' and nurses' perceptions of hope-engendering nurse actions in an inpatient ED facility and find significant differences; nurses' scores were higher than patients' scores. The study explored the relationship perceived self-reported nurse hope-engendering actions have with patients' and nurses' perception of hope. There were no significant relationships. This study provides additional evidence to support that there are common patient needs for nurse hope-engendering practices such as caring and providing for patients; supporting and encouraging patients' connection to others; facilitating patients' adaptive belief systems; and helping to set goals and attain resources for patients. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR MENTAL HEALTH NURSING PRACTICE?: Nurses who work with patients who have EDs should be prepared to work with patients who are feeling hopeless about their future. Thus, nursing continuing education should focus on strategies that enable nurses to deliver care that reduces hopelessness, improves connection, and inspires hope in those who are recovering from EDs. The results revealed that nurses perceived that they offered patients with EDs hope-engendering actions more often and effectively than patients believed; this finding pinpoints a future direction for research that may improve care for patients. Patient feedback identified ways nurses may improve care to engender hope: providing an open caring environment, nurse presence, comfort/pain relief, and involving patients in their care. Actions by nurses aimed to enhance interpersonal connection and nurse presence could facilitate hope in patients with ED. ABSTRACT: Introduction Individuals with eating disorders (EDs) experience suicidal thoughts and behaviours at elevated rates compared to the general population. Hope-engendering nursing actions may increase patients' levels of hope for the future, improve coping self-efficacy, and possibly reduce suicidality. Although nursing staff are integral ED treatment team members, little is known about nursing actions targeting hopefulness. Aim Explore differences between patients' and nurses' perceptions of hope-engendering nurse actions and the relationship actions have with patients' perception of hope. Methods Descriptive, cross-sectional, comparative, correlational research design was used. Responses for 97 ED patients and 10 nurses were entered into analysis. Hope-engendering nurse intervention and hope questionnaires were administered and analysed. Results Nurses' total hope-engendering nurse intervention and hope scores were higher than patients' scores. Discussion Patients reported that the most effective nursing actions were providing an open caring environment, comfort/pain relief, and involving patients in their care and treatment. Nurses perceived that they offered patients hope-engendering actions more often and effectively than the patients believed. Implications for Practice Findings indicate that patients with EDs have low levels of hope. Nursing educators should further develop strategies that enable nurses to deliver care that inspires hope and improves connectedness in those who have EDs.

Living with someone with an eating disorder: factors affecting the caregivers' burden.

We focused on carers of subjects suffering from eating disorders (ED), and studied the characteristics that mostly expose them to high levels of stress, anxiety, depression and expressed emotion, favoring the accommodation of the family system to the cared person. We administered the accommodation and enabling scale for eating disorders (AESED) questionnaire, the family questionnaire (FQ) and the depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS-21) questionnaire to 97 carers of 62 ED patients, and investigated the carer's characteristics associated with the scores in the three questionnaires. A personal history of ED, being the primary carer, and caring for a person with a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa are the characteristics that contribute most to aggravate the carers' burden in terms of stress, anxiety, depression, accommodation and enabling. Our findings may help doctors to provide effective support to caregivers and eventually improve the treatment of subjects with ED.

Valor del estudio piloto en investigación cualitativa: el caso de una investigación sobre autolesiones no suicidas / Value of pilot studies in qualitative research: Case of an investigation about non-suicidal self-injury

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[Occupational therapy and eating disorders, a care case study]. / Ergothérapie et troubles du comportement alimentaire, récit d'une prise en charge.

Occupational therapy offers support through actuation via a suggested activity. It opens up a differentiated space, a space of experiences where patients can contemplate themselves through play. The therapeutic relationship, assured by the occupational therapist, offers flexibility and malleability to welcome, contain and support the person with an eating disorder. It aims to be compassionate without judgement to favour the experience of movement. 'Making do with oneself' to 'be with oneself' while respecting the temporality of the patient's possibilities.

Understanding the impact of eating disorders: using the reflecting team as a learning strategy for students.

This article outlines how the application of a reflecting team from systemic family therapy practice was used as a learning strategy for a postgraduate programme for healthcare students. The programme was designed to increase the students' skills, knowledge and awareness of the needs of people with eating disorders, and their families. There were some benefits to this learning strategy. Students reported that the use of a reflecting team enabled them to gain a deep understanding of the emotional impact of eating disorders on individuals and their carers. However, as this method of learning was new to the students, they needed some initial instruction on the approach. During the programme of study, it became evident that the health professionals were deeply affected by the experiences of people with eating disorders. This would suggest that possibly it was the presence of the sufferers themselves as part of the reflecting team that provided the pivotal learning opportunity, rather than the reflecting team per se.

The Nourishing Role: Exploratory Qualitative Research Revealing Unmet Support Needs in Family Carers of Patients With Advanced Cancer and Eating Problems.

BACKGROUND: Family carers of patients with advanced cancer living at home have an important role in providing the patient's food and drink. Little attention has been paid to the support needs, particularly of the nutrition needs, of family carers. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to report support needs of family carers of patients with advanced cancer and eating problems. METHODS: The research is an inductive secondary analysis of baseline interview data from an exploratory trial conducted in the south of England. The interviews explored the management of eating problems in the home. A sample of 31 patients was selected where the patient's partner/spouse had also agreed to take part in the primary study. RESULTS: The analysis and interpretation reveal family carers to have a nourishing role, which is taken for granted by the patient and the carer themselves. This role is typically seen as an extension of the normal role of wife, mother, or homemaker in the family and no more than what a family carer should do. This obscures a need for information and advice on the nutritional care of patients with cancer with fickle appetite and other eating problems that are difficult to manage. Family carers may also be at a nutritional risk because their own dietary intake was found to mirror the patient's with some of them losing weight. CONCLUSIONS: Family cancer carers have a nourishing role that requires knowledge and skill beyond the everyday. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Cancer carers need education in how best to provide nutritional care. They also need support in managing their own nutritional risk.

The effects of enteral feeding improvement massage on premature infants: A randomised controlled trial.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To prove the effects of an enteral feeding improvement massage for premature infants with regard to their feeding, growing and superior mesentery artery blood flow aspect by a randomised controlled trial. BACKGROUND: Premature infants have feeding-related problems related to eating and absorbing nutrition due to their immature gastrointestinal function. Studies regarding the effectiveness of premature infants' enteral feeding improvement by tactile stimulation massage are rare. DESIGN: The study group was composed of 55 patients. Of the 55 patients, 26 were randomised into an experimental group and 29 were randomised into a control group. METHODS: They were all born <34 weeks of gestational age between 1 July 2011 and 30 March 2012. Premature infants in the experimental group received enteral feeding improvement massage twice a day for 14 days, and infants in the control group received a sham exercise. The collected data were analysed by spss 19.0, through t test, chi-square test (Fisher's exact) and ANCOVA. RESULTS: (i) The experimental group had reached the day of full enteral feeding significantly faster. (ii) The experimental group had a higher superior mesentery artery peak velocity (Vmax ) and lower RI (resistant index). (iii) The experimental group of the feeding-intolerant subgroup had a higher superior mesentery artery Vmax and Vmin . (iv) The experimental group had a heavier weight and larger head circumference after 14 days. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that enteral feeding improvement massage can be helpful for achieving earlier full enteral feeding, more increased superior mesentery artery, and faster growing. In particular, it can be a therapeutic, independent and evidence-based nursing intervention for feeding-intolerant premature infants. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Neonatal nurses in neonatal intensive care unit can apply enteral feeding improvement massage massage for feeding-intolerant infants.

Experience of caregiving and coping strategies in caregivers of adolescents with an eating disorder: A comparative study.

Caring for a relative with an eating disorder (ED) is associated with heightened psychological distress, which, according to a stress-coping model, may be influenced by coping and appraisal. However, limited quantitative studies have assessed coping in ED caregivers. This cross-sectional study aims to assess 1) the differences in coping between caregivers of three groups: patients with an ED, patients with a substance use disorder, and healthy teens, and 2) the patient and caregiver variables associated with coping and appraisal of the caregiving experience. A one-way MANOVA was significant for caregiver group for mothers, but not fathers. Mothers of both patient groups used more self-sufficient problem focused coping than mothers of healthy teens. Patient caregivers did not significantly differ from caregivers of healthy teens in their use of avoidance. Mothers used social support strategies more than fathers. A positive experience of caregiving was significantly associated with the use of approach-oriented coping in ED caregivers and a negative experience of caregiving was significantly associated with avoidance in ED mothers. Older ED caregivers were less likely to use avoidance. Future interventions could help ED caregivers to recognize their coping preferences and how to appropriately use these strategies when faced with illness-related stressors.

Perceptions of Caring for Adolescents With Eating Disorders Hospitalized on a General Pediatric Unit.

PURPOSE: To describe the perceptions of inpatient pediatric hospitalist physicians (HPs), registered nurses (RNs), and care assistants (CAs) at a tertiary pediatric hospital regarding caring for children with eating disorders (EDs) who are hospitalized for medical stabilization. DESIGN AND METHODS: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted using semi-structured individual interviews with aforementioned health care workers (HCWs) to explore their perspectives on caring for children/adolescents with EDs in relation to recent initiatives to transform their care. These initiatives focused on admitting patients to a designated "ED Unit", development of an ED consult team, providing ED education to staff, and development of ED standardized order sets (SOSs). RESULTS: Twenty HCWs representing the three disciplines completed individual interviews. Most participants reported that the system changes led to more consistent care of patients with ED. Content analysis of the interviews revealed the following themes: awkwardness and uncertainties of care, navigating family dynamics, establishing therapeutic boundaries, and finding rewards in ED care. CONCLUSIONS: Education, structure, and support for staff improved care for adolescents with EDs as perceived by HCWs. HCWs found satisfaction in providing care during the medical stabilization process. Study findings were positive for staff and future studies should include perceptions of patients/families to further design a therapeutic environment. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Providing a standardized order set, expert consult team, and ongoing staff training can strengthen the therapeutic hospital environment for adolescents with EDs. Pediatric hospitals can provide excellent care for children with EDs while supporting their staff to provide a therapeutic environment.

Meal Supervision During Medical Hospitalization for Eating Disorders.

The focus of medical hospitalization for restrictive eating disorders is weight gain; however, no guidelines exist on how to achieve successful and safe weight gain. Meal supervision may be a supportive intervention to aid in meal completion and weight gain. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of standardized meal supervision on weight gain, length of stay, vital signs, electrolytes, and use of liquid caloric supplementation in hospitalized adolescents and young adults with restrictive eating disorders. A chart review compared patients who received meal supervision from admission through discharge to an earlier cohort who received meal supervision as needed. There were no differences in weight, electrolytes, or vital signs between the two cohorts. Length of stay for those who received meal supervision from admission was 3 days shorter than earlier cohort. Nursing supervised meals beginning at admission may shorten length of stay and decrease health care costs.

Inside the fragile world of eating disorders.

'Take yourself back to the age of 15. What thoughts swirled around your head? Did you worry about how you looked or what your friends and teachers thought of you?' Wendy Clarke, specialist lead for eating disorders at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board in South Wales, believes nurses should be asking themselves these questions if they are to fully empathise, engage with and help young people with eating disorders.

Delivering a message of hope.

Shelley Perry is a dedicated and passionate mental health practitioner who specialises in supporting people with eating disorders across Lancashire. She is also a social entrepreneur.