Pre-Questionnaire | The Shared Table

What is your age range?

18-20
21-30
31-40
41-50
51-60
61-64
65-70
71-80
81-90
91+

Which of the following best describes your gender identity?

Male
Female
Non-binary/gender fluid
Different identity
I'd prefer not to say

Do you have a lived experience of an Eating Disorder?

Yes, as a Carer
Yes, as a person with an eating disorder (past or current)
Yes, as both
No
I'd prefer not to say

What is your relationship to the person with an eating disorder? ie. They are my:

Child (inc. adult child)
Partner or spouse
Parent or parent-in-law
Sibling
Grandparent
Grandchild
Other relative
Friend or roommate
Neighbour
Other

What is the age (range) of the person you are caring for?

0-6
7-11
12-16
17-18
19-20
21-25
26-30
31-40
41-50
51-60
61-64
65-70
71-80
81-90
91+

What is the identified gender of the person you are caring for?

Male
Female
Non-binary/gender fluid
Different identity
I'd prefer not to say

Which diagnosis of eating disorder has the person you care for been given?

Anorexia Nervosa
Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
Bulimia Nervosa
Binge Eating Disorder
Other specific feeding and eating disorder
Unspecified feeding and eating disorder
No formal diagnosis
I don't know

How long (in months) has the person you are caring for experienced symptoms pertaining to an eating disorder?

months

How long (in months) have you been providing support around meals for this person?

months

Is the person currently receiving eating disorder treatment? Please tick all that are applicable:

Psychology
Dietetic
Medical Monitoring
Psychiatric
Hospital inpatient
Day program
Non-hospital community-based programs
Peer support
Other
Not currently receiving any eating disorder treatment

How would you rate your knowledge of providing supportive meal therapy (SMT)?

Very low
Low
Moderate
High
Very High

How beneficial do you believe providing SMT to your loved one is?

Not at all beneficial
Not that beneficial
Somewhat beneficial
Beneficial
Very beneficial

How would you rate your current skill level providing SMT?

Very low
Low
Moderate
High
Very high

Use of The Shared Table techniques

We’re interested in the techniques you are already using with your loved one. For the last week, please rate how often you:

Advised what meal will be well in advance

Never
Less than half
Half the days
Most days
Every day

Advised of meal times well in advance

Never
Less than half
Half the days
Most days
Every day

Affirmed the physical benefits of nutrition/nourishment

Never
Less than half
Half the days
Most days
Every day

Broke down meal time into small steps

Never
Less than half
Half the days
Most days
Every day

Created a pleasant environment at meal time

Never
Less than half
Half the days
Most days
Every day

Distracted during the meal (eg. word games)

Never
Less than half
Half the days
Most days
Every day

Distracted post meal time (eg. watching a movie)

Never
Less than half
Half the days
Most days
Every day

Referred to the eating disorder as separate to loved one

Never
Less than half
Half the days
Most days
Every day

Reminded about reasons to get better

Never
Less than half
Half the days
Most days
Every day

Repeated back what your loved one said in your own words

Never
Less than half
Half the days
Most days
Every day

Talked about non-eating disorder topics during the meal

Never
Less than half
Half the days
Most days
Every day

Validated their feelings (eg. I can see this is hard)

Never
Less than half
Half the days
Most days
Every day

We’re interested in the techniques you are already using with your loved one.

Sort the following techniques from most to least important:

Referred to the eating disorder as a separate entity
Broke down meal time into small steps
Repeated back what your loved one said in your own words
Created a pleasant environment at meal time
Distracted during the meal (e.g. word games)
Advised of meal times well in advance
Reminded about reasons to get better
Distracted post meal time (e.g. watching a movie)
Validated their feelings (e.g. I can see this is hard)
Talked about non-eating disorder topics during the meal
Affirmed the physical benefits of nutrition/nourishment
Advised what meal will be well in advance

View Answers:

We would like to learn more about the costs that you have experienced in assisting your relative or friend with an eating disorder to have their meals in the last week:

Did you take time off from paid work to assist them with their meals?

Yes
No

If ‘yes’ can you tell us, in hours and minutes, how much time in the last week this was?

hours and minutes

Did you have to take time off from leisure or other activities you normally do like housework, shopping, studying, caring for other people to assist your relative or friend with their meals?

Yes
No

If ‘yes’, can you please tell us in hours and minutes, how much time in the last week this was:

hours and minutes

Eating Disorder Symptom Impact Scale

Please note that this measure contains some outdated terminology. Specifically, it refers to the individual with an eating disorder using the term ‘sufferer’ and uses gendered language (s/he pronouns only). EDQ and the other groups associated with this study do not endorse this terminology; however, as it is a standardised measure, we are unable to alter its wording.

The following questions contain a number of statements that commonly apply to persons who care for relatives or friends with an eating disorder. Please read each one and decide how often it has applied to you over the past one month. It is best not to spend too long on any one statement. Your first reaction will usually provide the best answer.

During the past month how often have you thought about:

How your friends/relatives have stopped visiting:

Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Nearly always

Losing your friends

Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Nearly always

Feeling unable to go out for evenings, weekends or on holiday

Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Nearly always

Canceling or refusing plans to see friends or relatives

Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Nearly always

Feeling that I should have noticed it before it became so bad

Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Nearly always

Feeling that I have let him/her down

Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Nearly always

Feeling that there could have been something that I should have done

Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Nearly always

Thinking that perhaps I wasn’t strict enough

Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Nearly always

Thinking about where I went wrong

Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Nearly always

Controlling/manipulative

Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Nearly always

Physically and/or verbally aggressive

Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Nearly always

Lying/stealing

Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Nearly always

Out of control temper

Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Nearly always

When the sufferer was living with you at home during the past month, how often:

(if the sufferer was not living at home with you during the past month, please refer to the last time she/he was living at home)

Did you experience difficulties preparing meals (i.e. making separate meals for family members, not having correct ingredients)?

Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Nearly always

Were there arguments with other family members about how to handle mealtimes?

Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Nearly always

Were there arguments or tension during mealtimes?

Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Nearly always

Did food disappear from the cupboards?

Never
rarely
Sometimes
Often
Nearly always

Did you spend long periods of time shopping for food?

Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Nearly always

Did you have difficulties with blocked drains, plumbing?

Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Nearly always

Were there bad smells and hygiene in the bathroom?

Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Nearly always

Did you have to turn up the heat due to her/him feeling cold?

Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Nearly always

Did you check on her/him to ensure that she/he was ok?

Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Nearly always

Did you notice or think about how the illness was effecting him/her physically? (ie. see her/him fall, faint, struggle up the stairs)?

Never
rarely
Sometimes
Often
Nearly always

Did you notice or think about how the illness was effecting her/him mentally?

Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Nearly always

The Caregiver Skills (CASK)

Please note that this measure contains some outdated terminology. Specifically, it refers to the individual with an eating disorder using gendered language (s/he pronouns only). EDQ and the other groups associated with this study do not endorse this terminology; however, as it is a standardised measure, we are unable to alter its wording.

We are interested in your thoughts on some areas of caregiving. Please be as frank and honest as you can.

The statements below describe situations that are commonly associated with eating disorders. For each situation please rate how confident you are that you could respond in the way described.

Rate your degree of confidence from 0 to 100 using the scale given below.

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Almost never Occasionally Frequently Almost Always

For example, a rating of 100 means that you are absolutely, 100% confident that you could perform the activity whenever you wished. For each scenario, please select the number that you feel best reflects your confidence. You can choose any score between 0 and 100 (10, 20, 30, etc.)

Please make all your ratings based on what you could do THIS WEEK as the person you are NOW rather than on the person you used to be or the person you would like to be. This is very important.

If you feel some of the questions aren’t applicable to you, try to rate how confident you would be should the situation arise. The blank spaces refer to your loved one with an eating disorder. You do not need to fill in the gaps.

How confident are you that you can…

Keep doing the things that you enjoy whilst caring for____________?

0 (almost never)
10
20
30 (occasionally)
40
50
60 (frequently)
70
80
90 (almost always)
100

Discuss and explain your own feelings about the eating disorder openly with __________?

0 (almost never)
10
20
30 (occasionally)
40
50
60 (frequently)
70
80
90 (almost always)
100

Discuss the eating disorder openly with all other immediate family members involved?

0 (almost never)
10
20
30 (occasionally)
40
50
60 (frequently)
70
80
90 (almost always)
100

Be understanding towards your loved one, even when you are angry or frustrated with them?

0 (almost never)
10
20
30 (occasionally)
40
50
60 (frequently)
70
80
90 (almost always)
100

Avoid getting drawn into arguments about the eating disorder with _________?

0 (almost never)
10
20
30 (occasionally)
40
50
60 (frequently)
70
80
90 (almost always)
100

Be calm when dealing with difficult behaviours associated with the eating disorder?

0 (almost never)
10
20
30 (occasionally)
40
50
60 (frequently)
70
80
90 (almost always)
100

Take some time for yourself when you need a break?

0 (almost never)
10
20
30 (occasionally)
40
50
60 (frequently)
70
80
90 (almost always)
100

Talk and listen with ____________, about difficult and complex emotions that s/he is feeling?

0 (almost never)
10
20
30 (occasionally)
40
50
60 (frequently)
70
80
90 (almost always)
100

Be reassured by even the smallest signs of improvement?

0 (almost never)
10
20
30 (occasionally)
40
50
60 (frequently)
70
80
90 (almost always)
100

Keep hope that your loved one with an eating disorder will recover?

0 (almost never)
10
20
30 (occasionally)
40
50
60 (frequently)
70
80
90 (almost always)
100

Step back and trust that your loved one will cope with day to day challenges by themselves?

0 (almost never)
10
20
30 (occasionally)
40
50
60 (frequently)
70
80
90 (almost always)
100

Agree boundaries, plans or household rules in collaboration with your loved with an eating disorder?

0 (almost never)
10
20
30 (occasionally)
40
50
60 (frequently)
70
80
90 (almost always)
100

Uphold boundaries/rules consistently in a compassionate tone, even when ________ is arguing with you?

0 (almost never)
10
20
30 (occasionally)
40
50
60 (frequently)
70
80
90 (almost always)
100

Control the urge to argue against the eating disorder behaviours, even though you believe your argument to be logical?

0 (almost never)
10
20
30 (occasionally)
40
50
60 (frequently)
70
80
90 (almost always)
100

Have pleasant verbal interactions with ___________, not related to the eating disorder?

0 (almost never)
10
20
30 (occasionally)
40
50
60 (frequently)
70
80
90 (almost always)
100

Control the urge to keep enquiring or checking on _______ ‘s behaviour even when you are very worried?

0 (almost never)
10
20
30 (occasionally)
40
50
60 (frequently)
70
80
90 (almost always)
100

Praise change or attempts at change by _______ even if the effects/results were less than you were hoping for?

0 (almost never)
10
20
30 (occasionally)
40
50
60 (frequently)
70
80
90 (almost always)
100

Resist constantly reminding/asking about agreed behaviour targets?

0 (almost never)
10
20
30 (occasionally)
40
50
60 (frequently)
70
80
90 (almost always)
100

Avoid getting caught in repetitive conversations with _________ about food and eating?

0 (almost never)
10
20
30 (occasionally)
40
50
60 (frequently)
70
80
90 (almost always)
100

Keep your eye on ________’s overall progress/the bigger picture?

0 (almost never)
10
20
30 (occasionally)
40
50
60 (frequently)
70
80
90 (almost always)
100

Resist relying solely on weight as a marker of how s/he is doing?

0 (almost never)
10
20
30 (occasionally)
40
50
60 (frequently)
70
80
90 (almost always)
100

Separate ___________ as a person from the illness?

0 (almost never)
10
20
30 (occasionally)
40
50
60 (frequently)
70
80
90 (almost always)
100

Reflect and understand the effect of your behaviour on __________?

0 (almost never)
10
20
30 (occasionally)
40
50
60 (frequently)
70
80
90 (almost always)
100

Accept that the eating disorder is not your fault?

0 (almost never)
10
20
30 (occasionally)
40
50
60 (frequently)
70
80
90 (almost always)
100

Accept that the one cause or trigger for the eating disorder may not be the solution to recovery?

0 (almost never)
10
20
30 (occasionally)
40
50
60 (frequently)
70
80
90 (almost always)
100

Find time to spend with other members of the family?

0 (almost never)
10
20
30 (occasionally)
40
50
60 (frequently)
70
80
90 (almost always)
100

Manage your anxiety levels so that you don’t feel overwhelmed?

0 (almost never)
10
20
30 (occasionally)
40
50
60 (frequently)
70
80
90 (almost always)
100

enrolment process Summary

Information

Results

Results

Categories

1. Question

2. Question

3. Question

4. Question

5. Question

6. Question

7. Question

8. Question

9. Question

10. Question

11. Question

12. Question

13. Question

14. Question

Use of The Shared Table techniques

15. Question

16. Question

17. Question

18. Question

19. Question

20. Question

21. Question

22. Question

23. Question

24. Question

25. Question

26. Question

27. Question

28. Question

29. Question

30. Question

31. Question

Eating Disorder Symptom Impact Scale

32. Question

33. Question

34. Question

35. Question

36. Question

37. Question

38. Question

39. Question

40. Question

41. Question

42. Question

43. Question

44. Question

45. Question

46. Question

47. Question

48. Question

49. Question

50. Question

51. Question

52. Question

53. Question

54. Question

55. Question

The Caregiver Skills (CASK)

56. Question

57. Question

58. Question

59. Question

60. Question

61. Question

62. Question

63. Question

64. Question

65. Question

66. Question

67. Question

68. Question

69. Question

70. Question

71. Question

72. Question