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British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology Abstracts of the 2016 BSACI Annual Meeting, Telford International Centre, UK, 29 September – 1 October 2016
Author(s) -
J. S. Young,
Eleanor Minshall
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
clinical and experimental allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2222
pISSN - 0954-7894
DOI - 10.1111/cea.12840
Subject(s) - clinical immunology , citation , library science , medicine , family medicine , allergy , immunology , computer science
Objectives: Despite the evidence illustrating that allergy impacts on the psychosocial functioning of children and families, it is unclear to what extent clinicians are able to refer to psychological services. This survey aims to explore clinician views of psychological need and ability to access psychology services. Method: Professionals attending a regional Allergy Network meeting completed a structured questionnaire. The participant sample (n = 29) was multi-disciplinary: 12 Nurses, 7 Consultants,5 Dieticians, 2 GPs, 2 Junior Doctors and 1 Nursery Nurse.Results Based on their clinical experience, the overwhelming majority (28/29) of professionals strongly agreed or agreed that there is a real need to address the psychological aspects of allergy in children as well as the physical aspects. Almost all of the participants (n = 28; 97%) wanted to be able to access psychology services for parents of and or children with allergy in their care.When asked, based on their experience, which groups of parents and/or children could benet from psychological services: 97%reported those with a history of anaphylaxis; 83% feeding difculties; 83% nut allergy; 79% teenagers, 69% fears of needles and/or skin prick testing; 69% those with adrenaline auto injectors. Almost half (48%) reported that parents of children with milk allergy could benet. Only 43% of respondents (12/28) were able to refer to psychology services. This was either via a general paediatric psychology service or by referral to a clinical psychologist working in an allied paediatric speciality, such as gastroenterology. Conclusions These ndings illustrate that, despite recognising need, fty-seven per cent of professionals who participated in a Paediatric Allergy Network survey reported that they were notable to access psychological services for children with allergy or their parents. Access to and models of psychology service provision in paediatric allergy require further attention