Parents’ knowledge and views of food allergy management in primary schools in Australia

Abstract

This study surveyed 115 Australian parents’ knowledge, views, and feelings of food allergy management and guidelines in primary schools. Although most parents were knowledgeable about food allergy management and related guidelines, half of them had limited understanding on how schools identify and respond to anaphylaxis, or teachers’ recent training in anaphylaxis. Overall, parents’ satisfaction surrounding the schools’ food allergy management was mixed. Yet they highly appreciated the schools’ efforts and practices in preventing the risks of food allergy, for example by identifying affected children and/or raising awareness about food allergies among the school community. Despite these efforts, parents were concerned about their child’s overall safety at school, especially in playground and non-routine activities such as school camps and lapses in communication and implementation of state guidelines. To address these concerns, parents suggested many improvements in the schools’ practices and guidelines, including proactive communication with parents on matters of food allergy. The implications of these findings for educators, along with recommendations for further research are presented.