Thursday, March 23, 2017: 8:30 AM-9:45 AM
Background:
How do we capitalize on personality traits of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) to improve identification, referral, and/or treatment of individuals with an eating disorder? This presentation will offer a strength based approach to discuss how we may advance non-eating disorder specialized RDNs in identifying eating disorders for earlier treatment initiation.
Objectives:
1) Following this presentation, participants will be able to describe the personality strengths of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists.
2) Following this presentation, participants will be able to discuss the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist perspective of treating clients with eating disorders based on recent research findings.
3) Following this presentation, participants will be able to identify areas to target and/or modify further training for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists to identify, refer, or treat clients with eating disorders.
The presentation will first describe and discuss the research supporting the lack of self-efficacy of RDNs when treating mental health disorders, specifically eating disorders. Influential factors will be presented, as well as qualitative data to raise questions associated with RDNs and their own personal behaviors that may be considered prior to treating eating disorders. Additional studies will demonstrate the personality traits commonly found with RDNs and will be integrated into the outcomes of the self-efficacy research. Discussion will then lead to how to use a strength-based approach, as often utilized in a therapeutic client/professional relationship, to train RDNs and increase self-efficacy for RDNs in identifying, referring, and treating clients with eating disorders.
It is no surprise that many health professionals are hesitant when it comes to treating clients with eating disorders. These clients require a complex treatment plan that many health professionals are uninformed of how to implement unless specific training has been sought outside of standards of education for the acquired licensing. Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) are no exception. Recent research utilized self-efficacy as a target variable due to its primary impact on behavior. In this particular study, this applied to how efficacious an RDN is when treating this population. Questions examined factors that impact of self-efficacy of RDNs when treating clients with eating disorders, as low self-efficacy was reported overall when treating clients with eating disorders. When the results are integrated into prior research regarding personality traits of RDNs, the outcomes provide an opportunity for a strength-based approach to training RDNs who do not work with an eating disorder specific population. It is well documented that earlier initiation of treatment provides better outcomes for clients with eating disorders. Utilizing a strength-based approach and capitalizing on personality strengths of dietitians, in the same way we would use a strength-based approach with clients, clients may be offered earlier identification for eating disorder specific treatment. This presentation will offer insight into these areas of research and offer a focus for further training of general practice RDNs to identify, refer, and potentially treat clients with eating disorders sooner.
Primary Presenter:
Emmy Trammell, PhD, RDN, LD
Dr. Trammell worked in clinical dietetics for 2.5 years prior to starting her PhD in Nutritional Sciences. Her PhD emphasizes eating disorders and addiction/recovery studies. She has worked for the Center for Collegiate Recovery Communities for the past 4.5 years as the eating disorder support dietitian, and also supports others in the recovery community on nutrition related concerns. She recently published research titled "Education and practice gaps of RDNs working with clients with eating disorders: A qualitative study." An extension of this research focuses on the factors influencing the self-efficacy of RDNs when treating clients with eating disorders.
