Provider and leader perspectives on eating disorder screening and the importance of a clinical pathway in the Veterans Health Administration: A qualitative study.

Abstract

We explored U.S. provider and leader perspectives on eating disorder screening, implementation, and clinical pathways in the Veterans Health Administration using qualitative interviews with 10 medical providers and seven leaders from Veterans Health Administration's National Program Offices (N = 17). Providers included two frontline primary care medical support staff, two nurses, two primary care providers, one dietitian, one women's health provider, one health psychologist, and one weight management program provider. We asked about the utility of screening for eating disorders and potential implementation challenges. The tool was in development at the time the qualitative interviews were conducted so that feedback could be taken into consideration. Rapid qualitative analysis was used to identify themes. Three themes were identified. First, a gap was identified in eating disorder screening, with acknowledgement that there is not a uniform way to systemically screen patients. Second, most agreed that a brief tool such as the one we developed could be helpful in a large health care system, especially a tool with language that was mindful of stigma issues. Third, there was agreement that a screening tool would need to be part of a more extensive clinical pathway that included diagnosis and treatment within the larger health care system. While participants supported the need for an eating disorder screening tool, their perspectives varied on how such a tool would be implemented in a national health care system. Specific recommendations were made for ensuring that there was a clear clinical pathway from the tool to treatment referral to best serve veterans with eating disorders. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).