Active Waiting List Management: Potential Usefulness in a Community Eating Disorders Service

Abstract

We explored the usefulness of an initiative for managing a treatment waiting list in a community eating disorders service. We sent 108 patients awaiting treatment an opt-in letter and, if necessary, a reminder 3 weeks later. Those who opted in were compared with those who did not. Of those receiving the letter, 67.6% opted in and did not differ significantly from those who opted out on measures of eating disorder pathology and general functioning. However, they had waited less time. Opt-in letters may help to identify those who no longer want to access services, thereby allowing resources to be directed towards those who still want treatment.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank Sandra Homer for her administrative assistance.

Paul E. Jenkins is now affiliated with Cotswold House Eating Disorders Service. This works was conducted while he was at the Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust.