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Eating disorder management in hospital patients: Current practice among dietitians in Australia
Author(s) -
HART Susan,
ABRAHAM Suzanne,
LUSCOMBE Georgina,
RUSSELL Janice
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
nutrition and dietetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.479
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1747-0080
pISSN - 1446-6368
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-0080.2007.00174.x
Subject(s) - anorexia nervosa , medicine , eating disorders , anorexia , clinical practice , parenteral nutrition , bulimia nervosa , rehabilitation , refeeding syndrome , psychiatry , nursing , physical therapy , intensive care medicine , malnutrition
Aim: To examine dietetic practice during the management of eating disorders in inpatient and daypatient settings. Methods: A survey was sent to dietitians working in the clinical management of eating disorders within Australia. Thirty‐six qualified dietitians including all dietitians working at the specialist units in Australia participated in the study. Results: Most dietitians aim to meet patients' nutritional requirements by food alone without artificial feeding. High‐energy supplements are the preferred method of increasing energy intake to eating disorder patients. Nasogastric feeding was a standard feeding practice for anorexia nervosa reported by one‐third of dietitians. Total parenteral nutrition was not considered an option for nutritional rehabilitation. In the treatment of anorexia nervosa, variable energy intakes for individual patients were prescribed aiming for weight gain of up to 1.0 kg/week in inpatients and 0.5 kg/week in outpatients. Conclusion: In Australia, there is no standard nutritional management for anorexia and bulimia nervosa. This survey establishes a baseline for nutritional management and practice of dietitians working with patients with eating disorders. Further research is needed regarding use of nasogastric feeding, and weight gain targets in anorexia nervosa.