Exploring the needs of adolescents with food allergy & their parents
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the needs of adolescents with food allergy and their parents during the transition process
IRAS ID
257072
Contact name
Claudia Gore
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 27 days
Research summary
Exploring the needs of adolescents with food allergy and their parents during the transition process
The transition process from paediatric to adult care is an important one, the aim of this study is to explore the perspectives of adolescents with food allergy and their parents with regards to transition from paediatric to adult healthcare in a clinic setting. Qualitative research to improve the experience of transition in a clinical service of adolescents with food allergy and their parents has not been explored. It is believed that exploring their perspectives will be beneficial, so this can then be integrated into the transition process, and also used to inform healthcare professionals and policy makers to incorporate these perspectives into the transition process in a clinical service.
This study will involve a combination of questionnaires and interviews, with a planned duration of 8 months. The target population is 13 to 18-year-old adolescents with immediate food allergy as well as their parents. The sample will be made up of 15 adolescent - parent pairs, attending allergy clinics at St. Mary’s Hospital, London. Participants will be recruited by selective sampling: to include male and female adolescents, a range of ages, and allergies to different foods (e.g. peanut/egg/milk). Questionnaires will be used to collect demographic and allergy data, whilst each participant will also fill in a series of questionnaires which will include food-allergy quality of life questionnaire, self-efficacy questionnaire and a transition-readiness questionnaire.
Qualitative data will be collected through interviews with adolescents and their parents separately, there will be a topic guide but participants will be encouraged to speak freely. Interviews will be audiotaped and last between 30-60 minutes, they will be carried out either face-to-face or remotely via internet. The focus will be on the transition process in a clinic setting, exploring what adolescents and their parents deem to be beneficial for the transition process. The interviews will also explore what food allergy specific additions, adolescents and their parents feel are necessary to transition paperwork.
REC name
Wales REC 6
REC reference
19/WA/0042
Date of REC Opinion
11 Feb 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion