Premium
Food allergy knowledge of parents – is ignorance bliss?
Author(s) -
Goossens Nicole J.,
Flokstrade Blok Bertine M. J.,
Meulen Gerbrich N.,
Botjes Erna,
Burgerhof Hans G. M.,
Gupta Ruchi S.,
Springston Elizabeth E.,
Smith Bridget,
Duiverman Eric J.,
Dubois Anthony E. J.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
pediatric allergy and immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.269
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1399-3038
pISSN - 0905-6157
DOI - 10.1111/pai.12099
Subject(s) - food allergy , medicine , allergy , bliss , family medicine , ignorance , pediatrics , immunology , philosophy , epistemology , computer science , programming language
Background Food allergic children are at least partially dependent on their parents to care for their food allergy. In addition, parents are often responsible for the education of others regarding food allergy, including the family, school, neighbors, and friends. The aim of this study was to investigate food allergy knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of parents with food allergic children in the N etherlands. In addition, a cross‐cultural comparison was made between parents from the USA and parents from the N etherlands. Methods The original C hicago F ood A llergy R esearch S urvey for P arents of C hildren with F ood A llergy ( CFARS ‐ PRNT ) was translated into D utch. Parents of children with at least one doctor‐diagnosed food allergy were included. Knowledge scores and attitude/beliefs scores were determined and compared with the data from 2945 parents from the USA . Predictors of overall knowledge scores were investigated. Results Dutch parents of children completed the translated CFARS ‐ PRNT (n = 299). The mean overall knowledge score in the N etherlands was 9.9 after adjusting for guessing, compared with 12.7 in the USA (p < 0.001). Attitudes and beliefs regarding food allergy among parents from the N etherlands were generally more optimistic. The overall knowledge scores could be predicted by country of origin, educational degree, being member of a patient organization, visiting an allergist, and a history of anaphylaxis. Conclusions Food allergy knowledge among parents of food allergic children from the N etherlands is suboptimal when compared with their counterparts from the USA , although these parents tend to be more optimistic toward food allergy than parents from the USA .