Introduction
Method
Author, year, country | Title | Purpose of the study | Design | Participants | Method of analysis | Main results and quality | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A | Ross & Green (2011). England. | Inside the experience of anorexia nervosa: A narrative thematic analysis | To research if in-patient care is experienced as therapeutic | Qualitative. Semi-structured interviews. | 2 patients (over 18 years old) that had been sick with AN for over five years, with in-patient experience. Now in specialised day patient clinic. | Thematic analysis | Stresses the importance of nurturing relationships in the treatment of chronically ill patients with AN. |
High. 22/25 | |||||||
B | Van Ommen et al. (2009). The Netherlands. | Effective nursing care of adolescents diagnosed with anorexia nervosa: the patients’ perspective | To describe effective nursing practices in in-patient care for patients with AN, from a patient’s perspective. | Qualitative. Semi-structured interviews. | 13 patients (13–17 years old) that were treated in a specialised clinic with out-patient and in-patient care. | Grounded theory | Nurses contributed significantly to the recovery from AN through normalisation, structure and responsibility. |
High. 22/25. | |||||||
C | Zugai et al. (2012). Australia. | Effective nursing care of adolescents with anorexia nervosa: a consumer perspective | To describe how nurses enable weight gain and a positive experience for adolescents in treatment for AN, from a patient’s perspective. | Qualitative. Semi-structured interviews. | 8 patients (12–18 years old) with in-patient experience, but now in specialised day patient clinic. | Thematic analysis | Nurses’ characteristics were seen as having a strong influence on patients’ experiences, primarily regarding weight gain, maintaining a therapeutic environment and the relationship between nurses and patients. |
High.21/25 | |||||||
D | Gulliksen et al. (2012). Norway. | Preferred therapist characteristics in treatment of anorexia nervosa: the patient’s perspective | To describe which characteristics that patients with AN prefer in therapists. | Qualitative. Semi-structured interviews. | 38 patients (18–51 years) that were treated as day patients, in-patients and out-patients at specialised clinics as well as general hospitals. | Thematic analysis | The care of patients with AN requires a caregiver with the ability to use a complex spectrum of skills. Preferred characteristics and skills included acceptance, vitality, expertise and the understanding to challenge the patient. |
High. 21/25. | |||||||
E | Ramjan (2004). Australia. | Nurses and the ‘therapeutic relationship’: caring for adolescents with anorexia nervosa | To research the difficulties that prevent relationships between nurses and patients with AN. | Qualitative. Semi-structured interviews. | 10 nurses with at least two years of experience treating patients in in-patient care at a general children’s hospital. | Thematic analysis | The main themes in the care of patients with AN were 1) the aim to understand the disease, 2) the pursuit of control and a balance of power with the patient, 3) the desire to build a caring relationship and the difficulty of creating alliances. |
High.22/25. | |||||||
F | Offord et al. (2006). England. | Adolescent inpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa: a qualitative study exploring young adults’ retrospective views of treatment and discharge | To explore young adults’ opinions about previous in-patient care, how these experiences in care impact the need for control and low self-esteem as well as discharge. | Qualitative. Semi-structured interviews. | 7 patients (16–23 years old) with experience with in-patient care. | Interpretive phenomenological analysis | Expressions of the adolescents’ normal development were not noted by the caregivers, which made things more difficult for the patients, and authoritative relationships were thought to contribute to feelings of isolation and inferiority.Medium high. 19/25. |
G | Jenkins & Ogden (2011). England. | Becoming ‘whole’ again: a qualitative study of women’s views of recovering from anorexia nervosa | To explore how women experienced their recovery from AN. | Qualitative. Semi-structured in-depth interviews. | 15 patients, (over 18 years old) in the recovery stage with experience with both in-patient and day patient care. | Interpretive phenomenological analysis | The relationships with professionals had an influence on the recovery process, specifically regarding irrational and rational thinking and behaviours |
Medium high. 19/25. | |||||||
H | Micevski & McCann (2005). Australia. | Developing interpersonal relationships with adolescents with anorexia nervosa | To describe how nurses develop therapeutic relationships with adolescents with AN. | Qualitative. unstructured in-depth interviews. | 10 nurses that treat patients with AN as in-patients in a children’s clinic. | Grounded theory | An individual focus and a sense of equality and respect are essential in care and for creating therapeutic relationships with patients with AN. |
Medium high. 19/25. | |||||||
I | Bakker et al. (2011). The Netherlands. | Recovery of normal body weight in adolescents with anorexia nervosa: the nurse’s perspective on effective interventions | To research the most effective aspects in nursing with adolescents with AN regarding weight gain. From a nurse’s perspective. | Qualitative. Semi-structured in-depth interviews. | 8 nurses & 1 social worker that treat patients between 12–18 years with AN in a specialised clinic. | Thematic analysis | The nurses saw themselves as in a key position to support patients in weight gain, and a good therapeutic relationship was the most essential aspect for this. |
Medium-high. 18/25. | |||||||
J | Pemperton & Fox (2011). England. | The experience and management of emotions in an inpatient setting for people with anorexia nervosa: a qualitative study | To describe meaningful factors for caring for and aiding with managing emotions for people with AN in in-patient care. | Qualitative. Semi-structured interviews. | 8 patients (under 25 years old) from two specialised units with in-patient care. | Interpretive phenomenological analysis | Some strategies among health professionals could aid in maintaining the anorexic behaviours in patients, while some anorexic behaviours in patients had negative impacts on the staff and therefore the care. |
Medium high. 20/25. | |||||||
K | Sly et al. (2014). England. | Rules of engagement: qualitative experiences of therapeutic alliance when receiving in-patient treatment for anorexia nervosa | To explore patients’ experiences with developing therapeutic alliances during hospital stays. | Qualitative. Semi-structured in-depth interviews. | 8 patients (18–34 years old), that were treated in day patient care with earlier experiences with in-patient care. | Interpretive phenomenological analysis | Alliances are a main component in the treatment of eating disorders, and they are influenced by trust, safety and a sense of equality. |
Medium high. 19/25. | |||||||
L | Wright & Hacking (2012). England. | An angel on my shoulder: a study of relationships between women with anorexia and healthcare professionals | To describe the experience of the therapeutic relationship between women with AN and their caregivers and to examine the contexts that enable this. | Qualitative. Semi-structured in-depth interviews. | 6 patients (21–44 years old), as well as their 7 caregivers (1 dietician, 1 therapist, 5 nurses). Patients were treated in day patient care and had been in different treatments for an average of 11 years. | Thematic analysis | Six topics that influence the caring relationship were presented: 1) sincerity, 2) safety, 3) the process of the disease, 4) recovery measured in kilograms, 5)hope and optimism, 6) the caregiver’s characteristics in handling patients. |
Medium high. 18/25. | |||||||
M | Colton & Pistrang (2004). England. | Adolescents’ experiences of inpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa. | To describe the experience of in-patient care for adolescents with AN. | Qualitative. Semi-structured interviews. | 19 patients (12–17 years old), treated at a specialised clinic. Many of the patients had experience with previous stays in in-patient care at specialised clinics and in general hospitals. | Interpretive phenomenological analysis | Patients experienced conflicts and dilemmas regarding treatment, insight into the disease and the desire to get well. Key aspects of this were described. |
High. 21/25. | |||||||
N | Tierney (2008). England. | The individual within a condition: a qualitative study of young people’s reflections on being treated for anorexia nervosa. | To explore young people’s experiences of being treated for AN. | Qualitative. Semi-structured interviews. | 10 patients that were treated for AN as teens (between 11–18 years old). Participants were in different stages of the disease and treatement process but had been in treatment within the last three years. | Thematic analysis | Aspects that patients considered important in care were discussed: the balance between the physical and the psychological, certain characteristics in professionals, and the experience of improvement in the process toward better health. |
High. 22/25. |