260 - Evaluating the Effectiveness of an Educational Curriculum on Increasing Physician Comfort in Screening and Managing Eating Disorders in the Outpatient Setting

Publication Number: 3250.260

Xhesika Begaj, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Colleen Kraft, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Stephanie Marcy, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Keck school of medicine of USC, Granada Hills, CA, United States; Elena Lorenzana, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States

Background: Eating disorders (EDs) are the third most common chronic condition among adolescents. Despite effective treatments, only 50% of patients achieve recovery. EDs carry high morbidity and mortality, with anorexia nervosa having the highest mortality of any psychiatric disorder. Many pediatric physicians fail to detect EDs due to limited training, unfamiliarity with validated screening tools, and uncertainty around management or referral.

Objective: The objective of this study is to improve physician comfort with ED screening and management in the outpatient setting through an educational curriculum and screening tool.

Design/Methods: This is longitudinal cohort study being conducted at a continuity clinic within a large pediatric hospital to evaluate the impact of an educational curriculum on physician comfort with ED care. All physicians practicing at the on-campus continuity clinic were invited to participate. Participants completed pre-intervention surveys assessing comfort, knowledge, and perceived barriers to appropriately screening and managing patients with EDs in the outpatient setting. Post-intervention surveys will be sent three and six months after the initial survey. The curriculum includes a five-lecture series delivered virtually by a multidisciplinary ED treatment team. A ten-question screening tool and recommended next steps was also made available to providers. Data will be analyzed descriptively and pre/post differences evaluated using paired tests. Qualitative feedback on clarity and relevance will be collected.

Results: Pre-intervention surveys show moderate comfort in screening for EDs (mean 5.4 ± 2.3) but lower comfort managing restrictive (3.5 ± 2.3) and binge-type (2.9 ± 1.9) disorders. Most respondents (44%) screened ≤10% of patients in the prior three months; 88% identified disordered eating in ≤10% of those screened. No participants used validated screening tools. Most requested additional education (64%), clear management guidelines (52%), standardized tools (48%), and improved referral resources (44%). Qualitative feedback highlighted uncertainty about follow-up questioning and limited access to multidisciplinary support.

Conclusion(s): Preliminary data reveal moderate comfort with screening but low comfort managing EDs in outpatient care. These findings underscore the need for structured education and standardized screening tools. Post-intervention surveys will assess the impact of the curriculum and screening tool on provider comfort and screening practices.

Eating Disorder Screening Tool
ED Screening Tool.pdf