Carer Skills training for inpatients with anorexia nervosa

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Bridging Transitions from Hospital to Home: Collaborative Skill Sharing Intervention with Carers (iCASK)

  • IRAS ID

    197113

  • Contact name

    Janet Treasure

  • Contact email

    janet.treasure@kcl.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Kings College London

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 3 months, 1 days

  • Research summary

    Problem to be solved: Hospital Episode Statistics reveal that admissions for anorexia nervosa are increasing (1). Admission restores nutrition in a timely manner (2), but psychosocial problems remain and relapse following discharge is common (3). The mortality post discharge is high (4). We have found that relapse and bed use post discharge are reduced by a parenting intervention giving the family skills to manage eating disorder behaviours (5).

    Innovation: Through a process of co-production, in collaboration with service users and their families, we have developed tools exemplifying emotional coaching behaviour change strategies for patients and their carers (texts, DVDs and podcasts; iCASK programme). These are hosted on a user-friendly, confidential and NHS-compliant platform.

    Plan: Carers access the platform and materials on admission and log in to obtain live chat support from the iCASK team. The iCASK team (family work trained nurses from the inpatient eating disorder service) guide the experiential learning process using gradated tasks (meals and trials of home leave) following plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles. For those without internet, paper versions of the materials and telephone calls for support will be used.

    Goals Patients will have:
    • Decrease length of stay.
    • Improve post discharge outcome.
    Carer:
    • Reduce burden and distress.
    Result Improve Family Skills through experiential learning:
    • Improved carer/patient skills.
    • Families attend minimum 1 supported eating session.
    • Less daily weight loss on planned trial leave.

  • REC name

    London - Camberwell St Giles Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    16/LO/1137

  • Date of REC Opinion

    16 Sep 2016

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion