Standardised Minimum Dataset (MDS) Evaluation for Paediatric Eating Disorder Services

Abstract

Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions with significant morbidity and mortality, and a rising prevalence in children and adolescents. Despite global research and clinical efforts to improve outcomes, establishing routine, longitudinal data collection that facilitates individualised care in real-Time and outcome assessment across clinical cohorts is crucial. The Royal Children's Hospital Eating Disorders Service have developed a world-first evaluation program that is integrated into the electronic medical record in a paediatric setting, capturing demographics, clinical characteristics, and treatment outcomes of young people receiving care over time. The design can be scaled across services to expand the dataset and enable comparisons of treatment modalities and subgroup outcomes-improving clinical decision making and, enabling longitudinal data collection, and facilitating national and international collaboration.