TY - JOUR
T1 - Food allergy knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs in the United States
AU - Gupta, Ruchi S.
AU - Kim, Jennifer S.
AU - Springston, Elizabeth E.
AU - Smith, Bridget
AU - Pongracic, Jacqueline A.
AU - Wang, Xiaobin
AU - Holl, Jane Louise
N1 - Funding Information:
Funding Sources: This study was supported by a grant from the Food Allergy Project, Chicago, Illinois.
Copyright:
Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2009/7
Y1 - 2009/7
N2 - Background: Members of the general public play a significant role in the well-being of food-allergic children, although little is known about the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of food allergy among the public. Objective: To provide insight into food allergy knowledge and perceptions among the general US population. Methods: A national sample of adults was recruited in February 2008 to complete the validated Web-based Chicago Food Allergy Research Survey for the General Public. Findings were analyzed to provide composite/itemized knowledge scores, describe attitudes and beliefs, and examine the effect of prior knowledge/familiarity with food allergy on knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs. Results: A sample of 2,148 respondents was obtained. Participants answered 64.9% (range, 12.5%-100.0%) of knowledge-based items correctly. Strengths were identified in areas related to symptoms/severity and triggers/environmental risks of food allergy. Knowledge was poor concerning the distinction between food allergy and food intolerance, the absence of a cure, and current means to treat food allergy. Higher scores were significantly associated with self-report of prior knowledge/familiarity with food allergy, particularly among those with prior training in food allergy (median increase, 7.9%). Perceptions regarding food allergy were generally well distributed, although respondents tended to minimize the stigma associated with food allergy and to oppose specific food allergy policies in schools. Conclusions: Increased food allergy knowledge among the general public is needed. Improved public awareness of the challenges faced by food-allergic children may encourage adoption of standardized school policies to keep affected children safe. These efforts are critical for protecting young children with food allergy and avoiding life-threatening anaphylactic reactions.
AB - Background: Members of the general public play a significant role in the well-being of food-allergic children, although little is known about the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of food allergy among the public. Objective: To provide insight into food allergy knowledge and perceptions among the general US population. Methods: A national sample of adults was recruited in February 2008 to complete the validated Web-based Chicago Food Allergy Research Survey for the General Public. Findings were analyzed to provide composite/itemized knowledge scores, describe attitudes and beliefs, and examine the effect of prior knowledge/familiarity with food allergy on knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs. Results: A sample of 2,148 respondents was obtained. Participants answered 64.9% (range, 12.5%-100.0%) of knowledge-based items correctly. Strengths were identified in areas related to symptoms/severity and triggers/environmental risks of food allergy. Knowledge was poor concerning the distinction between food allergy and food intolerance, the absence of a cure, and current means to treat food allergy. Higher scores were significantly associated with self-report of prior knowledge/familiarity with food allergy, particularly among those with prior training in food allergy (median increase, 7.9%). Perceptions regarding food allergy were generally well distributed, although respondents tended to minimize the stigma associated with food allergy and to oppose specific food allergy policies in schools. Conclusions: Increased food allergy knowledge among the general public is needed. Improved public awareness of the challenges faced by food-allergic children may encourage adoption of standardized school policies to keep affected children safe. These efforts are critical for protecting young children with food allergy and avoiding life-threatening anaphylactic reactions.
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U2 - 10.1016/S1081-1206(10)60142-1
DO - 10.1016/S1081-1206(10)60142-1
M3 - Article
C2 - 19663126
AN - SCOPUS:67650366800
SN - 1081-1206
VL - 103
SP - 43
EP - 50
JO - Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
JF - Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
IS - 1
ER -