Table 1 Clinical, research, and advocacy implications with specific recommendations
From: More than an outcome: a person-centered, ecological framework for eating disorder recovery
| Â | General implications | Specific examples |
|---|---|---|
Clinical | Inform treatment provider’s assessment and treatment approach | Clinicians may use the recovery framework form in their initial assessment to inform their understanding of treatment goals and external factors which may impact the recovery journey |
| Â | Inform treatment targets | Clinicians may talk with clients/patients using the form about what goals they have for treatment, which may inform the treatment modality used |
| Â | Inform treatment monitoring | Clinicians may adjust their treatment monitoring according to treatment goals. For example, if someone indicates that self-compassion is important, the clinician may choose to assess self-compassion before session each week |
| Â | Inform our own self-assessment | Considering systemic barriers may offer clinicians opportunities to identify areas for growth. For example, a clinician who has less experience with transgender clients may seek out learning opportunities so that they can provide a safe space for these clients |
| Â | Suggest the importance of advocacy | Clinicians have a responsibility to advocate for greater representation and inclusion. For example, clinicians may offer sliding scale to marginalized clients. Within formal programs, clinicians may evaluate demographics of clients served and suggest changes to make programs more accessible |
Research | Examining acceptability and accuracy of the framework | Researchers may present the framework to individuals with lived experience and solicit their feedback. Qualitative analysis may be used to assess the acceptability of the framework to individuals with lived experience. Focus groups may help to identify any areas that need to be adjusted or removed |
| Â | Explore what elements individuals feel are important in recovery | Researchers may explain the framework to individuals and have them fill it out based on their recovery journey. Researchers may then code the content of the recovery star (i.e., what do people include) and/or ask follow-up questions for qualitative analysis |
| Â | Evaluate effectiveness of the framework in treatment | Having established the acceptability of the framework, researchers may evaluate the effectiveness of using the framework with clients in treatment using a randomized controlled trial. Participants would be randomized to using the framework or not and then compared on predetermined outcomes |
Advocacy | Contextualizing recovery experiences | Advocacy groups and other organizations who ask individuals with lived experience to speak may ask them to contextualize their recovery experience using this framework before sharing their story |
| Â | Highlights the need for systemic change | As a field, we need to create a more inclusive and safe space for diverse individuals. Goel et al. [42] provide an excellent set of actionable steps that established and early career professionals can take |