Peer Review

Perfect Illusions: Eating Disorders and the Family

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Jul 27, 2013 by Health Sciences

Bookmark

Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

This learning resource is a portion of a health resource offered by public television stations. It is sponsored by the National Eating Disorders Association. It offers videos, lesson plans, student activities, and other related resources on eating disorders. Videos are available in segments, and lesson plans are integrated with web-based information. It is meant for students in middle school, high school, or college as they learn about health, without prerequisites. It is practical for young people and community members of all ages who want to help decrease eating disorders,

Type of Material:

This learning resource is a collection of worksheets, reference material, and case studies with associated personal reflections.

Recommended Uses:

The learning resource can guide teachers and learners. It can be broken down to use with only portions of lessons. It can be as simple as viewing videos for online education.

Technical Requirements:

Technical requirements include a computer with Internet access and web browser. A high speed connection and a video player, such as Real Player, is required to download videos.

Identify Major Learning Goals:

The learning objectives are implied. After reviewing the learning resource, users will be able to:

Identify the three primary eating disorders.
Discuss who is at risk, symptoms, effects and possible causes of anorexia and bulimia.
Discuss the potential contribution of media messages as causative factors in eating disorders.
Identify strategies and resources to assist persons with eating disorders and link them to expert health care providers.

Target Student Population:

Middle school, high school, or college general education. Could also be used for community continuing education for adults. It could be also used with community and school nurses, as well as undergraduate nursing students.

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

None.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:: Very readable, accurate and personalized resources with lesson plan looking at the topical and very sensitive topics of media influence and eating disorders. Material subtly uses psychological concepts such as peer identification to engage and inform the target audience. The Personal stories were very good to present eating disorders situations in a compelling way.
Concerns:: Approaches to psychological treatment and medical consequences of eating disorders not discussed in detail. However, the omission of this content is appropriate for the target audience. Health professionals would need further in-depth exploration of medical concepts to gain a comprehensive and evidenced based approach to clinical management of eating disorders. Scholarly references were not cited.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:: Very colorful and professionally done, with interesting pictures, graphics, excellent videos, and valuable links to add to the web pages content.
Concerns:: The learning resource is limited as a comprehensive resource for health professionals wanting to learn cognitive behavioural therapies to engage and treat persons with eating disorders.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:: The high quality of the videos offered, and their ability to engage the learner is excellent. They were made to reach young people, and give them the information they need to help them better understand the seriousness and the complexities of eating disorders.
Concerns:: At the time of the reviews, there were several broken links.

Other Issues and Comments:: Very interesting and modern look at eating disorders and their health impact. Media influences are covered quite thoroughly in the lesson plan, but the content related to psychological and physical effects were not as well-developed.
Creative Commons: