---
_id: '13560'
abstract:
- lang: eng
text: 'Introduction Eating disorders (EDs) are a significant public health concern,
yet men remain underrepresented in research and care, partly due to stigmatization.
This stigmatization contributes to reduced help-seeking and recognition of ED
symptoms in men. To address this, targeted interventions for healthcare professionals
are needed. The iSMEsH intervention aims to sensitize general practitioners (GPs)
in Germany to EDs in men, impart relevant knowledge and skills, and counter the
perception of EDs as "women''s diseases".Methods We will evaluate the iSMEsH intervention
regarding its effects on biased attitudes, knowledge, and self-efficacy among
GPs. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design (QUAN -> qual) will be applied
in three steps: (1) pre-implementation focus groups and a panel discussion with
individuals with lived ED experience and GPs to design the intervention, (2) conduction
of a randomized, wait-list controlled trial of the online training trial with
GPs and medical students, and (3) post-implementation qualitative interviews with
GPs. Quantitative data (step 2) will be analyzed using mixed-measures ANOVAs and
contrast analyses (per-protocol) as well as corresponding 2 x 3 linear mixed models
with fixed and random effects (intention-to-treat). Qualitative data from step
3 will be analyzed using thematic analysis as outlined by Braun and Clarke (2006).
Ethical approval was granted by the Ruhr-University Bochum Ethics Committee (AZ
2023-1106). Participants will provide written or digital informed consent.Discussion
The intervention seeks to reduce stigma against men with EDs in primary care by
improving GPs'' and medical students'' knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy.
Strengths include the comprehensive mixed-methods approach and involvement of
people with lived experience. Limitations are reliance on self-report and short-/intermediate-term
outcomes. If effective, iSMEsH may offer a foundation for future stigma-reduction
strategies in healthcare.'
author:
- first_name: MS
full_name: Lehe, MS
last_name: Lehe
- first_name: Georg
full_name: Halbeisen, Georg
id: '85780'
last_name: Halbeisen
orcid: 0000-0002-9529-2215
- first_name: G
full_name: Paslakis, G
last_name: Paslakis
citation:
ama: 'Lehe M, Halbeisen G, Paslakis G. Intervention against the stigmatization of
men with eating disorders in primary care (iSMEsH): Protocol for a randomized
mixed-methods evaluation trial. PLOS ONE. 2025;20(10). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0333997'
apa: 'Lehe, M., Halbeisen, G., & Paslakis, G. (2025). Intervention against the
stigmatization of men with eating disorders in primary care (iSMEsH): Protocol
for a randomized mixed-methods evaluation trial. PLOS ONE, 20(10).
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0333997'
bjps: 'Lehe M, Halbeisen G and Paslakis G (2025) Intervention against the
Stigmatization of Men with Eating Disorders in Primary Care (ISMEsH): Protocol
for a Randomized Mixed-Methods Evaluation Trial. PLOS ONE 20.'
chicago: 'Lehe, MS, Georg Halbeisen, and G Paslakis. “Intervention against the Stigmatization
of Men with Eating Disorders in Primary Care (ISMEsH): Protocol for a Randomized
Mixed-Methods Evaluation Trial.” PLOS ONE 20, no. 10 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0333997.'
chicago-de: 'Lehe, MS, Georg Halbeisen und G Paslakis. 2025. Intervention against
the stigmatization of men with eating disorders in primary care (iSMEsH): Protocol
for a randomized mixed-methods evaluation trial. PLOS ONE 20, Nr. 10. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0333997,
.'
din1505-2-1: 'Lehe, MS ; Halbeisen,
Georg ; Paslakis, G: Intervention
against the stigmatization of men with eating disorders in primary care (iSMEsH):
Protocol for a randomized mixed-methods evaluation trial. In: PLOS ONE
Bd. 20, Public Library of Science (PLOS) (2025), Nr. 10'
havard: 'M. Lehe, G. Halbeisen, G. Paslakis, Intervention against the stigmatization
of men with eating disorders in primary care (iSMEsH): Protocol for a randomized
mixed-methods evaluation trial, PLOS ONE. 20 (2025).'
ieee: 'M. Lehe, G. Halbeisen, and G. Paslakis, “Intervention against the stigmatization
of men with eating disorders in primary care (iSMEsH): Protocol for a randomized
mixed-methods evaluation trial,” PLOS ONE, vol. 20, no. 10, 2025, doi:
10.1371/journal.pone.0333997.'
mla: 'Lehe, MS, et al. “Intervention against the Stigmatization of Men with Eating
Disorders in Primary Care (ISMEsH): Protocol for a Randomized Mixed-Methods Evaluation
Trial.” PLOS ONE, vol. 20, no. 10, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0333997.'
short: M. Lehe, G. Halbeisen, G. Paslakis, PLOS ONE 20 (2025).
ufg: 'Lehe, MS/Halbeisen, Georg/Paslakis, G.: Intervention against the stigmatization
of men with eating disorders in primary care (iSMEsH): Protocol for a randomized
mixed-methods evaluation trial, in: PLOS ONE 20 (2025), H. 10.'
van: 'Lehe M, Halbeisen G, Paslakis G. Intervention against the stigmatization of
men with eating disorders in primary care (iSMEsH): Protocol for a randomized
mixed-methods evaluation trial. PLOS ONE. 2025;20(10).'
date_created: 2026-03-25T13:35:52Z
date_updated: 2026-04-10T11:40:10Z
department:
- _id: DEP1500
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0333997
external_id:
isi:
- '001591276000026'
pmid:
- '41066335'
intvolume: ' 20'
isi: '1'
issue: '10'
language:
- iso: eng
pmid: '1'
publication: PLOS ONE
publication_identifier:
issn:
- 1932-6203
publication_status: published
publisher: Public Library of Science (PLOS)
quality_controlled: '1'
status: public
title: 'Intervention against the stigmatization of men with eating disorders in primary
care (iSMEsH): Protocol for a randomized mixed-methods evaluation trial'
type: scientific_journal_article
user_id: '83778'
volume: 20
year: '2025'
...