Practitioners' perspectives on ethical issues within the treatment of eating disorders: Results from a concept mapping study

Objective Treating patients with eating disorders (EDs) is associated with an array of ethical concerns, including balancing patients' health and autonomy, access to care, and use of harm‐reduction versus recovery‐oriented treatment models. The primary aim of the current study is to gain a better understanding of ethical issues faced by ED practitioners by using a concept mapping, or Q‐sort, approach. Method A total of 12 practitioners completed the brainstorming phase and generated statements regarding ethical issues they faced while treating patients with EDs. A subsequent 38 practitioners completed a sorting task, where they created and labeled piles, into which they grouped each statement. Of those 38 participants, 30 rated both the frequency with which they encountered each ethical issue and its impact on patient care. Results A total of six clusters emerged: Insufficient Level of Care, Lack of Evidence‐Based Practice, Insurance Barriers, Family Involvement, Patient Autonomy, and Limited Access to Expertise. Lack of Evidence‐Based Practice, Insurance Barriers, and Insufficient Level of Care was the most frequent problem faced by ED practitioners, whereas Insurance Barriers and Patient Autonomy had the greatest impact. Discussion Findings outline frequent and impactful areas of ethical concern that arise when treating patients diagnosed with EDs. Practitioners most commonly reported that patient‐ and insurance‐driven factors limited patient access to appropriate care. Regulations supporting the provision of evidence‐based care should be emphasized in public health policy and advocacy efforts, given their impact in limiting the delivery of adequate patient care.