An online, peer-mentored food allergy education program improves children’s and parents’ confidence

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dc.contributor.authorDhanjal, Ranjit
dc.contributor.authorDine, Kyle
dc.contributor.authorGerdts, Jennifer
dc.contributor.authorMerrill, Kaitlyn
dc.contributor.authorFrykas, Tara L. M.
dc.contributor.authorProtudjer, Jennifer L.
dc.date.accessioned2023-06-01T17:29:18Z
dc.date.available2023-06-01T17:29:18Z
dc.date.issued2023-05-29
dc.date.updated2023-06-01T03:27:54Z
dc.description.abstractAbstract Background Children with food allergy, and their families experience substantial burdens because of efforts necessary to minimize the risk of anaphylaxis. To this end, peer-to-peer education is paramount. Food Allergy Canada offers an online, peer-to-peer mentoring program. However, the impact of this program has not previously been formally evaluated. Objective To determine if Allergy Pals, an online, peer-to-peer mentoring program, for children aged 7–11 years, increased child and parental food allergy competency, and confidence. Our secondary aim was to qualitatively describe the experiences of the program. Methods From May 2020-May 2021, children and their parents were invited to participate in an online, anonymous survey about Allergy Pals, at pre-program, and post-program. Primary outcomes, which were described and compared using chi2 or t-tests, as appropriate for the respective variables, included food allergy competence (epinephrine carriage, signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis) and food allergy confidence (e.g. comfort asking other for food allergy-related support). Secondary outcomes included child and parent perceptions of the program, which were analysed thematically. Results Overall, 17 children completed the pre-program, and 11 completed the post-program survey. Corresponding numbers for parents were 25 and 23. Food allergy competence was high pre-program, and remained so post-program. Food allergy confidence improved from pre-program to post-program. E.g. Children tended to feel less left out (5/12, 41.7%; 3/10; 30.0%, respectively), a finding that was reflected also in parents’ scores. Themes identified for child and parent perceptions further supported improved food allergy confidence. Conclusion Although food allergy competence was high pre-program, Allergy Pals improved food allergy confidence.en_US
dc.identifier.citationAllergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology. 2023 May 29;19(1):47
dc.identifier.citationAllergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology. 2023 May 29;19(1):47
dc.identifier.citationAllergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology. 2023 May 29;19(1):47
dc.identifier.citationAllergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology. 2023 May 29;19(1):47
dc.identifier.citationAllergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology. 2023 May 29;19(1):47
dc.identifier.citationAllergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology. 2023 May 29;19(1):47
dc.identifier.doi10.1186/s13223-023-00800-8
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1993/37364
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.language.rfc3066en
dc.publisherBioMed Central (BMC)en_US
dc.rightsopen accessen_US
dc.rights.holderThe Author(s)
dc.subjectmentorshipen_US
dc.subjecteducationen_US
dc.subjectfood allergyen_US
dc.subjectpediatricsen_US
dc.titleAn online, peer-mentored food allergy education program improves children’s and parents’ confidenceen_US
dc.typejournal articleen_US
local.author.affiliationFaculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences::Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciencesen_US
oaire.citation.issue1en_US
oaire.citation.startPage47en_US
oaire.citation.titleAllergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunologyen_US
oaire.citation.volume19en_US
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