The PIERS Research Study

What is the PIERS Research Study?

PIERS (Post-Secondary Intervention for Eating Disorders) is a research initiative focused on evaluating and enhancing The Harbour’s innovative care model for post-secondary students experiencing eating disorders.

PIERS brings together academic researchers, student health services, community organizations, and individuals with lived experience of eating disorders. It combines research, clinical care, and community partnerships within a single initiative, with a strong emphasis on including student voices, lived experience, and student health services directly in program development. This collaboration helps ensure the model reflects real needs and stays grounded in the experiences of post-secondary students.

The Harbour

This initiative responds to the unique challenges of post-secondary students, including living away from home, changing support systems, increased academic demands, and the transition from adolescent to adult healthcare services. The Harbour Clinic is tailoring treatment to individual needs rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all model, and PIERS is working to evaluate the impact of this care model on improving student outcomes, including academic success and long-term well-being.

The PIERS ongoing evaluation is intended to strengthen The Harbour’s approach and support scaling it to other post-secondary institutions. Overall, PIERS aims to create a sustainable, evidence-informed model of eating disorder care that could improve outcomes for post-secondary students across Canada.

What makes PIERS unique

Focused on Post-Secondary Transition

Focused on the transition to and experiences during post-secondary life informed by students with lived experience

Interdisciplinary and community-based

The program is guided by an interdisciplinary team that includes student representatives and community partners, ensuring diverse perspectives and lived experience shape decision-making.

Scalability

Consideration of program scalability from the outset

Our Approach

The PIERS project will evaluate and inform refinement of the Harbour’s care model using mixed methods research, including participant feedback, clinical outcomes, and community input.

Co-Desgin Process

A central feature of PIERS is its co-design approach. Students with lived experience, clinicians, and community partners are involved in program development, evaluation, and knowledge translation. This ensures the program is relevant, accessible, and responsive to student needs.