A Global Survey of Mental Health Treatment Experiences Among Food Allergy Patients and Caregivers.

Background: Barriers to mental health treatment have been identified among individuals managing food allergy (FA), yet little is known about their experiences accessing this care.

Objective: We assessed the mental health treatment experiences of caregivers and adults with FA within the Global Access to Psychological Services for FA Study.

Methods: Caregivers of children with FA and adults with FA from >20 countries completed online surveys about experiences with FA-related mental health treatment.

"It's a Permanent Struggle to Manage It Really": Psychological Burden and Coping Strategies of Adults Living With Food Allergy.

Food allergy (FA) is a potentially life-threatening condition which is associated with poor quality of life and psychological distress in patients and caregivers. Although FA is often seen as a condition that affects children, increasing numbers of adults have FA, either as a condition they have grown up with or they were diagnosed as an adult. No recent research has explored the lived experiences of adults with FA and how they manage this condition.

Refinement and Validation of a New Patient-Reported Experience Measure for Hearing Loss (My Hearing PREM).

Context: Patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) generate insights into daily challenges experienced when living with a chronic condition and experiences of care. There are no validated PREMs to measure the experience of hearing loss.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of a newly developed tool, 'My Hearing PREM', designed to assess the experience of living with hearing loss and receiving audiology care.

From bite to brain: Neuro-immune interactions in food allergy.

Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated food allergies are reported to affect around 3.5% of children and 2.4% of adults, with symptoms varying in range and severity.

Psychological support needs for children with food allergy and their families: A systematic review.

This systematic review aimed to review the evidence for psychological support for children with food allergies and their families, identify effective psychological interventions, and highlight the support needs for this group. A systematic search was undertaken across six databases (up to October 2023). Articles were checked by three reviewers for inclusion.

Core Outcome Set for IgE-mediated food allergy clinical trials and observational studies of interventions: International Delphi consensus study 'COMFA'.

Background: IgE-mediated food allergy (FA) is a global health concern with substantial individual and societal implications. While diverse intervention strategies have been researched, inconsistencies in reported outcomes limit evaluations of FA treatments. To streamline evaluations and promote consistent reporting, the Core Outcome Measures for Food Allergy (COMFA) initiative aimed to establish a Core Outcome Set (COS) for FA clinical trials and observational studies of interventions.

Beliefs about food allergies in adolescents aged 11-19 years: A systematic review.

Aims: Research suggests of people with food allergy (FA), adolescents have the highest risk of fatal allergic reactions to food, yet understanding of this population and how they manage their condition is limited. Understanding beliefs and how they affect behaviour could inform ways to reduce risk taking behaviour and fatal reactions in adolescents. This systematic review aimed to explore beliefs adolescents hold about their FA, and how these may be associated with FA management.

The global burden of illness of peanut allergy: A comprehensive literature review.

Peanut allergy (PA) currently affects approximately 2% of the general population of Western nations and may be increasing in prevalence. Patients with PA and their families/caregivers bear a considerable burden of self-management to avoid accidental peanut exposure and to administer emergency medication (adrenaline) if needed. Compared with other food allergies, PA is associated with higher rates of accidental exposure, severe reactions and potentially fatal anaphylaxis.

Current transition management of adolescents and young adults with allergy and asthma: a European survey.

Background: Transition from parent-delivered to self-management is a vulnerable time for adolescents and young adults (AYA) with allergy and asthma. There is currently no European guideline available for healthcare professionals (HCPs) on transition of these patients and local/national protocols are also mostly lacking.

Methods: European HCPs working with AYA with allergy and asthma were invited to complete an online survey assessing challenges of working with these patients, current transition practices and access to specific healthcare resources.

Peanut allergy impact on productivity and quality of life (PAPRIQUA): Caregiver-reported psychosocial impact of peanut allergy on children.

Background: Limited research has examined the impact of peanut allergy (PA) on children using validated instruments to assess psychosocial burden and the factors influencing burden.

Objective: The PAPRIQUA study aimed to assess the caregiver-reported impact of living with PA on children's health-related quality of life (HRQL), correlations between PA severity and child's sex, and associations of caregivers' sex and anxiety with the proxy report of their child's HRQL and to identify significant predictors of a child's HRQL.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of caregivers of children with mild, moderate and severe PA, based on caregiver perception, was conducted in the United Kingdom.

Can we define a level of protection for allergic consumers that everyone can accept?

Substantial progress has been made in characterising the risk associated with exposure to allergens in food. However, absence of agreement on what risk is tolerable has made it difficult to set quantitative limits to manage that risk and protect allergic consumers effectively. This paper reviews scientific progress in the area and the diverse status of allergen management approaches and lack of common standards across different jurisdictions, including within the EU.

The effectiveness of interventions to improve self-management for adolescents and young adults with allergic conditions: A systematic review.

Background: This systematic review aimed to review the literature on interventions for improving self-management and well-being in adolescents and young adults (11-25 years) with asthma and allergic conditions.

Methods: A systematic literature search was undertaken across eight databases. References were checked by two reviewers for inclusion.

Impact of atopic dermatitis on quality of life in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) can affect quality of life (QoL) of adult patients in whom the condition can be severe and persistent. There are currently no systematic reviews of the impact of AD on adults. This paper provides the first systematic literature review and meta-analysis of the impact of AD on QoL in adults.

"It's not an illness, it's just bad luck": The impact of anaphylaxis on quality of life in adults.

Background: An increasing number of adults are being diagnosed with anaphylaxis, but its impact on health-related quality of life (HRQol) is not known.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the impact of anaphylaxis on HRQoL of newly diagnosed adults.

Methods: Interviews were conducted with 13 adults (aged 40-71; five males) with anaphylaxis (meeting WAO diagnostic criteria) to drugs, food, venom or spontaneous anaphylaxis, recruited using purposive sampling from allergy clinics in Birmingham, UK.

The Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Quality of Life scale (PCOSQOL): Development and preliminary validation.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is an endocrine disorder amongst women, which can negatively impact quality of life. Research proposes that a more sensitive PCOS quality of life measure is needed. This study aims to develop and initially validate a quality of life scale for women with the condition in the United Kingdom.

Anaphylaxis and Clinical Utility of Real-World Measurement of Acute Serum Tryptase in UK Emergency Departments.

Background: British guidelines recommend that serial acute serum tryptase measurements be checked in all adults and a subset of children presenting with anaphylaxis. This is the first study reporting the clinical utility of acute serum tryptase in a "real-world" emergency department (ED) setting following the publication of the World Allergy Organization (WAO) criteria for anaphylaxis.

Objectives: To (1) assess sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV) of acute serum tryptase in anaphylaxis; (b) determine factors associated with higher acute serum tryptase levels; and (c) audit compliance of acute serum tryptase measurement in the ED.