Evaluating the Food Allergy Passport: A Novel Food Allergy Clinical Support Tool

Abstract

The prevalence of pediatric food allergy (FA) has increased in the past 2 decades. The previous literature suggests that FA presents burdens, both economically and psychosocially, to children and their caregivers, especially families in lower-income strata. Using data from a previously published needs assessment, the Food Allergy Management in Low-Income Youth study, the FA Passport and Workbook tools were developed to address identified needs. This study evaluated the utility of the FA Passport in helping families insured by Medicaid to manage FA better and improve quality of life. Families insured through Illinois Medicaid were recruited from two Chicago-based allergy clinics. Caregivers of children with FA completed a pretest evaluating knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices regarding FA management. A clinician guided caregivers through the FA Passport. The caregivers then completed a posttest immediately afterward and again 3 months later. Changes were evaluated from baseline responses and direct feedback was elicited about the tool. The FA Passport successfully improved caregiver-reported confidence with epinephrine autoinjector use (from 69% to 93%), caregiver anaphylaxis recognition (from 66% to 73%), and reported quality of life, and it nearly doubled caregiver comfort regarding leaving the child in the care of others (from 40% to 75.7%). Caregivers rated the FA Passport tool as extremely helpful overall (9.4 out of 10). The FA Passport is a novel FA clinical support tool that addresses barriers to proper FA management described in previous studies. It proved effective at improving caregiver comfort with regarding leaving the food-allergic children with other caregivers, increasing FA knowledge, and improving the quality of life in families affected by FA.