Parents of children with food allergy: A qualitative study describing needs and identifying solutions

Abstract

BackgroundParents experience a wide range of emotions, specifically stress and anxiety, when their child receives a diagnosis of a food allergy. Managing this health condition and coping with emotions require professional and peer support. Currently, there is a lack of resources and a lack of awareness of the resources that are required to help assist parents in managing their child’s food allergy. ObjectiveTo describe parental experiences when caring for a child with food allergy and to review the resources parents need to manage living with a child with food allergy and more specifically how they would want these resources delivered. MethodsA total of 7 semistructured focus groups were conducted in British Columbia, Canada. Parents were asked to describe their experiences with managing their child’s food allergy and identify helpful resources. ResultsA total of 40 parents (33 females) participated in the focus groups. Participant demographics were collected. The following 3 main themes emerged: (1) anxiety (an emotional roller coaster); (2) a transformational journey (the waiting game, loss of normalcy, strained relationships and mistrust, and financial challenges); and (3) the need for resources (day to day management, ages and stages, mental health supports, and “the dream”). ConclusionAn in-person allied health care team is needed to provide an integrated, patient-centered approach for how families can live and manage food allergies. Credible information and resources, such as medically reviewed websites, support groups, and counseling services, with a goal of reducing child and parental anxiety, should be provided by health care professionals.