Attitudes about how online self-help supports can be used

beat are interested in exploring web supports for eating disorders. We are especially considering offering encouragement and support in using online resources. Please can you help us find out what would be most helpful for people. We want to discover more about your attitudes and use of online packages. We are asking about your opinions about online information and self-help resources in general rather than about the beat website itself. All information gathered from the questionnaires will be treated confidentially and you do not need to provide us with your name. Your help would be much appreciated.

How will this information be used?

This questionnaire has been produced in collaboration with Dr Chris Williams of the University of Glasgow. He is a psychiatrist who has an interest in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and self-help approaches. He has developed two websites that beat are considering using as a resource. We plan to help use this information to help us look at how to best use online resources. A short paper summarising the total responses to the survey will be produced and we would aim to publish this on the website and in health care/user conferences/journals.

There are 17 short questions which will take you 4-5 minutes to complete.

Personal Details

1. Your email (optional)
If you provide this we can send you a summary of the results

2. Gender

3. Where do you live? [Please state your postcode]

4. Age

5. Have you ever experienced an eating disorder yourself in the past?

6. Do you yourself currently have an eating disorder?

6a. If yes: are you receiving support/treatment for this from an NHS health care worker?

7. Are you a carer/supporter of someone with an eating disorder?
My Use of online information / therapy sites
Online information/therapy sites include sites like beat that let you find out more about eating disorders, and also how to make changes to improve things. Online therapy sites claim to offer more than just information and offer treatment as well- for example an online cognitive behaviour therapy treatment delivered by a website.

8. Do you use online information/therapy sites to find out about eating disorders and their treatment?

We are considering making two specialist online therapy sites available from the beat website:

9a. Would you be interested in using an online information/therapy site to support/treat people with bulimia?

9b. Would you be interested in using an online information/therapy site to support/teach carers of those with anorexia?

10. If such resources were made available – would it be helpful to receive support in using the site from a beat volunteer to help encourage you to keep on track in using the online resource?

11. Would it put you off using such an online information/therapy resource if your GP was informed you were using it?

12. What might make it difficult for you to use such an online information/therapy resource?

 Lack of access to a computer
 Lack of privacy to use the course
 Worries about confidentiality
 Lack of confidence in using a computer

 Other (please state below)
What types of supports are needed for people to get the most
out of online information/therapy sites?

13. Which supports do you think would help people to use online information/therapy site about eating disorders? (tick all that apply)

 people can use it just by themselves [Here, the person logs on and uses the package with no encouragement or support contacts with anyone else]
discussion forum / chat room support from a beat worker [Here the person using the site could ask questions of other users of the package - asking questions and getting responses from other users experiences]
email support from a beat support worker [Up to one email would be sent a week for 8 weeks to offer personalised encouragement and support]
telephone support from a beat support worker [Up to one telephone call (approx 10-15 minutes) would be made once a week for 8 weeks to offer personalised encouragement and support]
live chat support from a beat support worker ["Live" immediate responses to your questions and queries at a planned appointment time using a live chat email system]
group support e.g. from a beat group [Additionals sessions might be offered where discussion would occur about the course or specific course modules somewhat like a "book club"]
videoconference support from a beat support worker [A live chat using a webcam where you can talk and see the support worker. Sessions of 10-15 minutes weekly for up to 8 weeks would be offered]
Support from an NHS worker (GP, nurse or other professional) [Offered face to face or by email or telephone]
other (please specify below)

How should online information/therapy packages help people if they feel suicidal?

14. Should online information/therapy packages for eating disorders routinely ask about suicidal thoughts?

15. What support should be given to the user if risk to themselves is detected? (tick all that apply)

 Telephone support call from beat
Email support from beat
Advise the person to contact their GP
beat to inform the person’s GP
Advise the person to contact A & E
Advise the person to contact voluntary sector support (e.g. Samaritans)

16. Would you feel very strongly that your GP should not be contacted if risk was detected?

17. Any other comments

Thank you for taking part!

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