Frequency and Predictors of Manual Use and Evidence-Based Psychological Interventions Among Clinicians Treating Eating Disorders in British Columbia

Bajaj, Deepika

Frequency and Predictors of Manual Use and Evidence-Based Psychological Interventions Among Clinicians Treating Eating Disorders in British Columbia

dc.contributor.advisor	von Ranson, Kristin
dc.contributor.author	Bajaj, Deepika
dc.contributor.committeemember	McMorris, Carly
dc.contributor.committeemember	Exner-Cortens, Deinera
dc.contributor.committeemember	Birnie, Katie
dc.date	2023-11
dc.date.accessioned	2023-09-29T21:21:02Z
dc.date.available	2023-09-29T21:21:02Z
dc.date.issued	2023-09-21
dc.description.abstract	Several evidence-based psychological interventions (EBPIs) exist for eating disorders (EDs). Yet, these interventions and manuals are underutilised in clinical practice. This study described psychological interventions British Columbia (BC) clinicians used to treat EDs and examined factors associated with manual and EBPI use. Participants were recruited from a list of 1,530 potential participants created for this study by identifying clinicians listing online that they treat EDs, as well as through social media advertisement and snowball recruitment. One hundred and twenty-six community counsellors and psychotherapists providing psychological intervention to individuals with EDs across BC described their ED clients, psychological interventions used, and their training. To examine predictors of EBPI and manual use, these participants provided demographic information and completed measures of affect, intolerance of uncertainty, and attitudes toward treatment manuals. Overall, 8% of respondents indicated that they often used manuals in their clinical work. Use of EBPIs by clinicians for treatment of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder ranged from 2%-15%. Logistic regression analyses identified two factors associated with manual use included: negative attitudes toward manuals were associated with infrequent use of manuals, whereas positive attitudes toward manuals were associated with increased likelihood of manual use. Unexpectedly, logistic regression analyses did not identify any factors that significantly predicted of EBPI use. The low uptake of EBPIs for the treatment of EDs suggests that ED client may be receiving suboptimal care, highlighting the need for future work to address barriers to EBPI use. Future research should explore beyond clinician characteristics and investigate how external and intervention factors may impact the adoption and implementation of EBPIs and manuals in ED treatment.
dc.identifier.citation	Bajaj, D. (2023). Frequency and predictors of manual use and evidence-based psychological interventions among clinicians treating eating disorders in British Columbia (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.
dc.identifier.uri	https://hdl.handle.net/1880/117257
dc.language.iso	en
dc.publisher.faculty	Arts
dc.publisher.institution	University of Calgary
dc.rights	University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subject	eating disorders
dc.subject	evidence-based psychological interventions
dc.subject	protocol-based approaches
dc.subject	empirically supported treatments
dc.subject	therapist drift
dc.subject.classification	Psychology--Clinical
dc.title	Frequency and Predictors of Manual Use and Evidence-Based Psychological Interventions Among Clinicians Treating Eating Disorders in British Columbia
dc.type	master thesis
thesis.degree.discipline	Psychology – Clinical
thesis.degree.grantor	University of Calgary
thesis.degree.name	Master of Science (MSc)
ucalgary.thesis.accesssetbystudent	I do not require a thesis withhold – my thesis will have open access and can be viewed and downloaded publicly as soon as possible.