Young adults with eating disorders perspectives on educational resources to support the transition into adult medicine: a thematic analysis

BACKGROUND: Eating disorders (EDs) commonly develop in adolescence and can be a chronic condition. Once patients reach the age when it is no longer permitted or appropriate for them to be seen in a children’s healthcare setting, they will need to transition into adult-focused care. This transition period can be challenging, with increased risks of negative health outcomes and disruptions in care. Appropriate educational resources could be an effective support for patients during this transition. Our objectives were to engage patients about the value of developing educational supports and determine how these supports should be structured to be most useful to young adults with EDs. METHODS: Patients who had transitioned out of a hospital-based ED program between 2017 and 2020 were invited to participate in a semi-structured interview. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis and qualitative description. RESULTS: Six young adults (5 females and 1 male) with EDs were interviewed. All participants thought it would be helpful to have an educational resource. Three main themes and seven subthemes were identified. Themes identified related to the unique challenges of transition for ED patients given the age of onset and cycle of symptoms; issues in adult care related to comorbidities and new level of autonomy; and the value of educational resources as both a connection tool and a benchmark. Participants also thought it would be useful to include in any educational resource a summary of their previous treatments, information regarding the transition process, a list of main healthcare providers they saw for their ED, a description of the differences and expectations of the adult system, a list of their follow up appointments, and a list of community and emergency mental health resources. CONCLUSIONS: Participants said that educational supports can play a useful role for young adults with EDs during their transition into adult care. They also provided valuable insights into the desired contents of such supports and expanded on the roles that educational resources could serve for ED patients.