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Taha S, Rabaiah R, Dweikat A, Abu-Ali L, Yaeesh H, Jbour R, Al-Jabi SW, Zyoud SH. Parental knowledge and attitudes toward food allergies: a cross-sectional study on determinants and educational needs. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:2668. [PMID: 39350050 PMCID: PMC11440689 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-20139-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2024] [Accepted: 09/19/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Food allergy (FA) may often lead to fatal consequences if it is treated promptly. Parents of children with FA should have adequate knowledge to improve health outcomes and reduce the associated burden. This study aimed to examine the knowledge and attitudes regarding FA among parents of children with FA. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study conducted among parents attending a primary healthcare center using convenience sampling. The minimum sample size of 280 was calculated using an equation based on the local prevalence of FA among children, and was increased to account for missing data. The data were collected using a four-section questionnaire that collected data about the parents and their children and included questions about knowledge and attitudes regarding FA. The knowledge score was calculated by summing the number of correct answers, with a maximum of 15 points. The Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to examine the associations between the knowledge score and other variables. Spearman's correlation was employed to test the correlations between the knowledge score and other variables. RESULTS A total of 381 parents completed the questionnaires, of whom 71.9% were mothers and 28.1% were fathers. The prevalence of food allergies was 14.22%. Almost one-third had children who had one or more types of FA (32.8%). Most of those patients had received a professional diagnosis of FA (75.3%). The median knowledge score was 7.0 (IQR = 6-8), with variable proportions of correct answers across and within topics. A higher knowledge score was significantly associated with parenting a child with FA (p = 0.006), comorbid asthma or eczema (p = 0.012), the preference to acquire information from professional health agencies (p < 0.001), and higher educational (p = 0.002) and income (p = 0.001) levels. Moreover, the number of discussions held with a healthcare professional regarding FA was significantly correlated with the knowledge score (r = 0.210, p = 0.019). Online resources were the most commonly reported source of information (65.4%). Parents believed that having a child with FA can cause stress in the family (76.1%) and impact siblings' daily lives (66.7%), while only a minority viewed FA as stigmatizing. Additionally, the majority encouraged governmental spending on FA research (92.9%). CONCLUSIONS Parenting a child with FA, comorbid asthma or eczema, number of discussions held with healthcare professionals, and education and income levels were significantly associated with a higher knowledge score. Educational interventions targeting parents should blend emotional regulation, medical information, and management skills to increase knowledge about FA and alleviate associated stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sari Taha
- An-Najah Global Health Institute (GHI), An-Najah National University, P.O. Box 7, Nablus, Palestine
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, P.O. Box 7, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Raya Rabaiah
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine
| | - Alaa Dweikat
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine
| | - Lama Abu-Ali
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine
| | - Hala Yaeesh
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine
| | - Razan Jbour
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine
| | - Samah W Al-Jabi
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine.
| | - Sa'ed H Zyoud
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine.
- Poison Control and Drug Information Center (PCDIC), College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine.
- Clinical Research Centre, An-Najah National University Hospital, Nablus, 44839, Palestine.
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Ataya J, Ismail A, Soqia J, Kousa A, Shahoud Z, Alhalabi R, Zaitouna M. Addressing knowledge gaps in allergies among Syrian hospital patients: a cross-sectional study. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2938. [PMID: 38316903 PMCID: PMC10844623 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53471-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Allergies have a significant impact on health and quality of life worldwide, yet there is limited research on the awareness and knowledge of allergies. This study aimed to explore the level of awareness and knowledge of allergies among visitors in Syrian hospitals. A cross-sectional study was conducted between May and September 2022, and a standardized international questionnaire was administered to 504 visitors in three hospitals in Syria. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) version 23. The final sample comprised 504 questionnaires with 61.7% of participants achieving an average score. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in knowledge of allergy scores between the group with only elementary education (M = 3.76, SD = 1.67, p = 0.011), the group with no education (M = 3.65, SD = 1.65, p = 0.006), and the group with a university education (M = 4.44, SD = 1.25). Notably, no significant differences were found between the other educational groups. A one-way ANOVA was employed to assess the effect of place of living on knowledge of allergy, but no significant differences were observed between the groups (p = 0.462). Lastly, a significant negative correlation was detected between participant age and knowledge of allergy scores (r(502) = - 0.102, p = 0.022). Allergies represent a substantial global health concern that demands attention from healthcare providers, policymakers, and the public. This study emphasizes the importance of investing in health education and awareness campaigns to enhance knowledge and comprehension of allergies, particularly individuals with lower levels of education levels. By equipping individuals with the requisite information to effectively manage their allergies, their overall health and wellbeing can be improved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamal Ataya
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria.
| | | | - Jameel Soqia
- Faculty of Medicine, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria
| | - Alyamama Kousa
- Faculty of Medicine, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria
| | - Zein Shahoud
- Faculty of Medicine, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria
| | - Rawan Alhalabi
- Faculty of Medicine, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria
| | - Mazen Zaitouna
- Faculty of Medicine, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria
- UMR1195, University Paris Sud, INSERM, University Paris-Saclay, Le Kremlin-Bicetre, France
- Service of Urology, Grand hospital of Est Francilian, Meaux, France
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