Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Handbook for Parents of Children Newly Diagnosed With Food Allergy

Living Confidently With Food Allergy: Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Handbook for the Newly Diagnosed

The objective of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of a handbook for parents of children newly diagnosed with food allergy. The handbook was developed to provide information and strategies to support families in effectively managing food allergies while maintaining positive quality of life. Parents of children newly diagnosed with food allergy (within the past year) will be randomized into either the treatment condition (handbook) or a control condition (management of food allergy as usual). Participants will complete study questionnaires online at three time points: baseline (this will be before receiving the handbook for the treatment group), post-intervention (2-3 weeks after baseline), and follow-up (2-3 months after baseline). Data will be analyzed for change on study outcome measures and satisfaction with the handbook. Parents in the control group will receive the handbook following the conclusion of their participation in the study.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Parents of children ages 0 to 18 years newly diagnosed with food allergy (within the past 12 months)
• Child's food allergy has been diagnosed by a physician
• Child has been prescribed an epinephrine auto-injector

Exclusion Criteria:

• Non-English speakers, as the handbook (study intervention) is only available in English at this time.