Table 2 Summary of the conceptual categories that emerged from parent interviews, and the classification of these categories into high-level concepts
From: Parental experiences with their child’s eating disorder treatment journey
| High-level Concepts | Conceptual Categories |
|---|---|
| Delays in identifying eating disorder symptoms |
• Parents did not recognize eating disorder symptoms or were not concerned in the early stages of changes to eating behaviour • Eating disorder slipped under the radar due to gender/age |
| Challenges with accessing eating disorder services |
• Delays in referral to appropriate services • Lack of appropriate services in home community • Delays in accessing treatment/waitlists |
| Right treatment at the right time |
• Lack of therapeutic care or unhelpful therapeutic care • Bouncing between care providers • Timing of admission/logistical issues affecting care |
| Emotional impact on parents |
• Anxiety about accessing an appropriate treatment, feeling at a loss about how to best support their child • Anger, frustration, desperation and guilt in the early stages of the treatment journey • Relief upon being connected with an appropriate treatment |
| Parental expertise and involvement |
• Caregiver knows best • Advocacy in treatment planning • Developing a better understanding of the recovery process • Involvement during treatment helped improve confidence at the time of discharge |