This two-part study focuses on understanding the treatment experiences of adults aged 18 and over with either a longstanding and/or Severe and Enduring Eating Disorders (SEEDs) in Australia (i.e., have experienced an eating disorder for 7 or more years). We aim to explore the barriers that people may have encountered accessing care and the factors that may have facilitated their engagement with eating disorder treatment. We are particularly interested in how individuals reflect on their healthcare experiences and what changes they believe may be necessary to improve treatment.

Study Overview:
Part 1: Participants will complete an online Expression of Interest form (up to 10 minutes) to begin sharing their treatment experiences.

Part 2: Participants will then be invited to a one-on-one Zoom interview (up to 50 minutes) to explore their experiences in more depth.

Part 1: Expression of Interest Survey
You will first be asked to complete an online expression of interest survey lasting up to 10 minutes. The survey will collect basic demographic details (including height and weight) and ask about your eating disorder history, including the type, duration, and whether you are currently experiencing symptoms or not. It will also explore your treatment experiences (if any), and any barriers or facilitators to accessing treatment. You will also be asked to complete the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) which is a standard survey used during eating disorder treatment. Finally, you will be asked to provide your contact details and interview preference day/times so the research team can contact you to arrange the part 2 interview. Participants will receive their EDE-Q score via email from the research team within 2-3 business days of completing the survey (with helpline details should you wish to pursue them) and details for the second part of the study (interview component).

Part 2: Interview
The second part of the study in involves a one-to-one interview with a member of the research team. Please note that if you are a current or past client/patient of any member of the research team, you will not be interviewed by that researcher but another member of the research team. You will be contacted to schedule a Zoom interview lasting up to 50 minutes, which will allow us to explore your treatment experiences in more depth and these interview answers will be linked to your survey responses. During the interview, we will ask about aspects of your treatment journey, such as:
•       What specific barriers did you encounter when trying to access treatment (if any)?
•       What factors helped you to engage with and continue treatment (if any)?
•       How do you interpret and reflect on your overall experiences within the healthcare system?
Please note that all interviews will be audio-recorded for transcription purposes. It is completely your choice whether you choose to turn on your video camera during the interview. There will be no video recording.

Your participation in this study is entirely voluntary. You may withdraw from the research at any stage prior to the interview, or up to four weeks after the interview, or avoid answering any questions which are felt too personal or intrusive.

You will be compensated with a $20 Prezzee voucher (https://www.prezzee.com.au/) after completing both parts of this study (the expression of interest survey and interview). This voucher is intended to recognise your time and contribution.