PC1270: Hybrid Clinical Care Model of a Multidisciplinary Eating Disorder Program in Qatar During COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted individuals with eating disorders. Eating disorder clinicians from across the globe have observed a significant increase in the number of cases of eating disorders compared to pre-pandemic. Eating disorders requires a specialized multi-disciplinary team who need to physically assess patients as well as offering family-based therapy (FBT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as part of the intervention. This is usually done in-person. However, since the onset of COVID-19, a hybrid model of treatment was introduced which involved in-person sessions and telehealth. Previous evidence implies that telehealth is a positive alternative to delivering outpatient care Implementing interventions in mental health such as CBT and FBT demonstrates a similar efficacy between face-to-face sessions and online sessions, as well as developing therapeutic alliance and patient satisfaction between the different delivery methods.

The objective of this study is to review patient satisfaction since introducing the hybrid model of treatment in Adolescents with eating disorder through data collection, pre-pandemic and during the pandemic in an Eating Disorder Program in Qatar.

Methods: The Eating Disorder program is set in a tertiary care children’s hospital in Qatar, treating patients between the ages of 8-18 year old. All patients enrolled attended the clinic from August 2017 to April 2022. Outpatient eating disorder. Assessments were obtained using the DSM-V criteria for cases with eating disorders as well as co-morbid depression and anxiety. In May 2020, the hospital used the hybrid model of clinical care with reduced patient face-to-face appointments except for urgent visits those who were medically unstable. For the purpose of this study, August 2017 to March 2020 is considered ‘pre-pandemic’ and April 2020 to April 2022 as ‘during-pandemic’. A patient satisfaction questionnaire was filled out by all patients upon their face-to-face appointment ‘pre pandemic’ and sent via telephone link after appointments ‘during pandemic’.
The patient satisfaction survey’s look at how readily patients can access the service, provider communication, care coordination and the helpfulness of staff.

Results: Our results revealed there is increased in the number of cases of eating disorders during Covid19 pandemic as well as increased in the comorbidities as shown in the graph.
Patient satisfaction surveys revealed positive outcome. it suggested that the numbers weren’t remarkably different ‘pre and during’ the pandemic. Some patients "felt that virtual consultations were more cost effective and convenient as they didn’t interrupt the school day". Feedback from the social workers and psychologists providing FBT and CBT suggested that the hybrid model is good however occasionally can be difficult to engage fully with younger patients, over the telephone.

Conclusion: The hybrid model was a great method for patient care during the pandemic. Ninety two percent of patients were pleased and satisfied with the hybrid model.