Abstract
BackgroundLimited previous research has assessed the psychosocial burden and productivity impact of caring for a child with peanut allergy and factors associated with burden. The objective of this research was to explore caregiver burden in terms of psychosocial and productivity impact of caring for a child with peanut allergy, the influence of caregiver and child gender on caregiver burden, and factors predicting caregiver burden in peanut allergy.MethodsA cross-sectional survey of caregivers of children with peanut allergy was conducted in the United Kingdom, and included sociodemographic and clinical questions, EQ-5D, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Food Allergy Quality of Life-Parental Burden, Food Allergy Independent Measure, and productivity questions.ResultsOne hundred caregivers (55% female) of children with peanut allergy (aged 4–15 years) completed the survey. Male and female caregivers reported mean levels of anxiety significantly higher than United Kingdom population norms. Caregivers of children with severe peanut allergy reported significant impacts on their careers and health-related quality of life. Neither caregiver nor child gender impacted burden, indicating that male and female caregivers are equally anxious and suffer the same level of negative career, productivity, and health-related quality-of-life impact due to their child’s peanut allergy. Caregivers’ perceived risk of outcomes related to their child’s peanut allergy (e.g., death or severe reaction) as measured by the Food Allergy Independent Measure independently predicted burden.ConclusionsCaregivers of children with peanut allergy in the United Kingdom experience health-related quality-of-life, psychosocial, and productivity burden; this study demonstrates the high levels of anxiety reported by both male and female caregivers.
Highlights
Limited previous research has assessed the psychosocial burden and productivity impact of caring for a child with peanut allergy and factors associated with burden
Peanut allergy affects between 0.6% and 1% of the adult population and between 1% and 3% of children in the developed world [1, 2], and studies suggest the prevalence is increasing in the United Kingdom (UK) [3]
The results show a statistically significant increase in caregiver burden among those with children reported to have severe versus mild peanut allergy in the Food Allergy Quality of Life–Parental Burden (FAQL-PB) limitations on life domain (B = 6.64, 95% CI 0.36–12.92, p < 0.05)
Summary
Limited previous research has assessed the psychosocial burden and productivity impact of caring for a child with peanut allergy and factors associated with burden. Peanut allergy affects between 0.6% and 1% of the adult population and between 1% and 3% of children in the developed world [1, 2], and studies suggest the prevalence is increasing in the United Kingdom (UK) [3]. Parents of children with food allergies report significantly greater emotional impact, impact on parental time, and limitations in usual family activities than do population norms in the United States [4]. Parents of children with food allergies report significantly greater emotional impact [5] and effect on social relationships [6] than do parents of children with no allergic diseases. Even with suspected food allergy prior to clinical diagnosis, the level of anxiety in parents was significantly higher than in those who had just been diagnosed with a chronic illness [9]
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