Late Adolescents with Food Allergies - Access to Food and Health Care

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Transitioning to Independence: Late Adolescents Access to Food and Health Care and Self-Management of Food Allergies

• IRAS ID

  303224

• Contact name

  Jan Mei Soon

• Contact email

  jmsoon@uclan.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Central Lancashire

• Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

  39152, Central Lancashire Online Knowledge (CLOK) - an open-access repository (clok.uclan.ac.uk)

• Duration of Study in the UK

  2 years, 3 months, 21 days

• Research summary

  Poor food selection behaviour is prevalent in late adolescents (LA) (18-25years) with food allergies (FA) and is associated with adverse physical and mental health effects. LA with FA require sufficient support from health services. Yet allergy service provision across the UK is severely lacking, with a shortage of allergy clinics/specialists available who can provide necessary advice and treatment. Furthermore, an under recognition of FA exists in those with reduced socio-economic status. Individuals have poorer access to food and health care and once diagnosed, medication and continued support (travelling long distances for safe, quality food and health care) presents an economic burden.

  A mixed methods approach will be used.

  Aim:

  The research aims at understanding the impacts of food allergy and socioeconomic status on food access, nutritional status and health care access in late adolescents with and without food allergies.
  
  Objectives:

  To conduct a comparative analysis between those with and without FA, in areas of high and low deprivation in the North West, by exploring…

  • Factors influencing food choice
  • Nutritional status
  • Health care access
  • Barriers/facilitators experienced by health care professionals

  3 groups of participants:
  • LA with FA
  • LA without FA
  • Health care professionals

  Recruitment:
  • Charity bodies (Anaphylaxis Campaign/Allergy UK)
  • ‘Allergy and Free From Shows’
  • Local Hospitals, Health Care Clinics and Universities in NW

  Outcome:
  To conceptualise and co-develop preventive intervention/s with participants, public advisors, universities and allergy charity bodies (Anaphylaxis Campaign and Allergy UK). The outcome is to improve current awareness, knowledge, skills and therefore confidence firstly, for LA with FA so they may better manage their allergy and secondly, for health care professionals, so they can provide better care for treating LA with FA’s.

  National Institute of Health Research are funding this research.

• REC name

  East of England - Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  21/EE/0285

• Date of REC Opinion

  24 Jan 2022

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion