285814
Eating disorders and youth: Raising awareness and raising peer intervention rates
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
: 9:15 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Cathy Plourde, MA,
Add Verb Productions, Westbrook College of Health Professions, University of New England, Portland, ME
Elisa Orme, Graduate Student,
School of Social Work, School of Social Work, Westbrook College of Health Professions, University of New England, Portland, ME
Gary Cattabriga,
School of Community and Public Health, University of New England, Portland, ME
BACKGROUND: Add Verb, a program of the University of New England, has presented THE THIN LINE to US middle schools, high schools and colleges since 2000. It is a 30-minute play professionally performed by one actor featuring four characters to provide an understanding of the impact of eating disorders on both the individual and family systems. OBJECTIVE/PURPOSE: The play is at the center of a school-based educational program geared to engage bystanders--the friends and family members of those who are ill. The premise of the play, as presented in context of an empowerment/educational call to action, is to provide accurate information and a window into the arc and complexity of this mental illness with the aid of local professionals who have some knowledge and expertise. Increasingly arts and media are used to communicate with youth around this health issue, but there is very little data as to efficacy or likelihood of intervention, and there is a valid concern about making things worse, providing how-to's, or over simplification of what is quite complex. METHODS: With funding from the van Otterloo Family Foundation a longitudinal study follows 9th graders from four schools with pre, post, follow up and focus group data. RESULTS: Research and findings from three years of data will be shared. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: This study informs best practices for theatre as an evidence-based educational tool in the area of eating disorders intervention
Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Explain a longitudinal behavioral study on increased knowledge about and likelihood of peer intervention as relates to The Thin Line, an education program that uses theatre and community action.
Describe components of the intervention and scope of the education program.
Identify outcomes of the study.
Keyword(s): Behavioral Research, Health Advocacy
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I'm an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Integrated Health Sciences, and a co-PI for the longitudinal study. Among my interests are using theatre as pedagogy and activism.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
