Background Feeding and eating disorders present with a variety of medical complications, some of which may be life-threatening. Emergency Medicine (EM) physicians may interact with patients with eating disorders, however, EM physicians’ knowledge and perceptions of resources for treating patients with eating disorders have not been examined. The purpose of this study was to explore previous training/education, perceptions of available resources, and educational needs in treating eating disorders in practicing EM physicians. Methods An investigator-developed survey was used in this cross-sectional pilot study, distributed to EM Residency Program Coordinators in the United States to distribute to EM physicians and residents. The survey assessed EM physicians’ previous training and education in treating and diagnosing eating disorders. The primary outcomes assessed were participants’ previous training/education in eating disorders, knowledge of local resources for patients, and educational needs on a variety of topics related to adult and adolescent eating disorders. Data were described descriptively and SAS 9.4 was used to analyze data. Results Of the 162 participants, just 1.9% completed a rotation on eating disorders during residency. Ninety-three percent were unfamiliar with the American Psychiatric Association’s Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Eating Disorders; 95% were unfamiliar with the publication, “Emergency Department management of patients with eating disorders” by Trent et al. The majority were not aware of resources for patients with eating disorders including community and online support groups, the National Eating Disorders Association, and local treatment programs. At least 50% agreed additional education on 15 of the 19 topics examined would be useful; 85% agreed to wanting education on the assessment of patients with eating disorders in the Emergency Department. Conclusions Most EM physicians lack training in eating disorders and knowledge of resources available for patients post-Emergency Department discharge. EM physicians agree additional education on a number of topics would be beneficial, particularly assessment of eating disorders in the Emergency Department, medical complications of eating disorders, and hospital admission criteria for those with eating disorders.

中文翻译：

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急诊医师对饮食失调的培训、教育和资源的知识和看法

背景 喂养和进食障碍会出现多种医学并发症，其中一些可能危及生命。急诊医学 (EM) 医生可能会与饮食失调患者进行互动，但是，尚未检查 EM 医生对治疗饮食失调患者资源的知识和看法。本研究的目的是探讨以前的培训/教育、对可用资源的看法以及在执业 EM 医生中治疗饮食失调的教育需求。方法 在这项横断面试点研究中使用了调查员开发的调查，分发给美国的 EM 住院医师计划协调员，分发给 EM 医生和居民。该调查评估了 EM 医生之前在治疗和诊断饮食失调方面的培训和教育。评估的主要结果是参与者之前在饮食失调方面的培训/教育、患者当地资源的知识以及与成人和青少年饮食失调相关的各种主题的教育需求。对数据进行描述性描述，并使用 SAS 9.4 来分析数据。结果 在 162 名参与者中，只有 1.9% 的人在住院期间完成了饮食失调的轮换。93% 的人不熟悉美国精神病学协会的饮食失调患者治疗实践指南；95% 的人不熟悉 Trent 等人的出版物“饮食失调患者的急诊科管理”。大多数人不了解饮食失调患者的资源，包括社区和在线支持团体、全国饮食失调协会、和局部治疗方案。至少 50% 的人同意对 19 个主题中的 15 个进行额外教育是有用的；85% 的人同意希望在急诊科接受关于饮食失调患者评估的教育。结论 大多数 EM 医生缺乏饮食失调方面的培训，也缺乏急诊科出院后患者可用资源的知识。EM 医生同意对一些主题进行额外的教育将是有益的，特别是对急诊科进食障碍的评估、进食障碍的医学并发症以及进食障碍患者的入院标准。85% 的人同意希望在急诊科接受关于饮食失调患者评估的教育。结论 大多数 EM 医生缺乏饮食失调方面的培训，也缺乏急诊科出院后患者可用资源的知识。EM 医生同意对一些主题进行额外的教育将是有益的，特别是对急诊科进食障碍的评估、进食障碍的医学并发症以及进食障碍患者的入院标准。85% 的人同意希望在急诊科接受关于饮食失调患者评估的教育。结论 大多数 EM 医生缺乏饮食失调方面的培训，也缺乏急诊科出院后患者可用资源的知识。EM 医生同意对一些主题进行额外的教育将是有益的，特别是对急诊科进食障碍的评估、进食障碍的医学并发症以及进食障碍患者的入院标准。