PANACHE Study: Parent Anxiety About Child Food Allergy

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Developing and feasibility testing an evidence informed low intensity psychological intervention for parents of children with food allergy

  • IRAS ID

    250111

  • Contact name

    Judith Young

  • Contact email

    Judith.Young@uea.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of East Anglia

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    2 years, 6 months, 12 days

  • Research summary

    Food allergy in childhood is a major health problem. Allergic reactions range from mild to severe and can be life threatening. Research tells us that food allergy has an impact on parental mental health and well-being, with many parents reporting anxiety symptoms and worries.

    This three year NIHR funded study has three parts. Parents who experience anxiety or worries about their child's immediate food allergy (IgE mediated) will be invited to participate.

    Firstly, a model of parental anxiety about child food allergy will be developed. Research interviews will be carried out with parents. The aim is to improve our understanding of parents worries and anxieties about their child's food allergy. This new knowledge will be combined with evidence from two systematic reviews to inform the next stages of the research.

    Secondly, a psychological intervention / 'toolkit' will be developed for parental food allergy anxiety. This will be an evidence informed psychological treatment developed for parents, with parents. Parent focus groups will address what the goals and content of the psychological toolkit will be. Additionally, expert staff focus groups will be carried out to inform the toolkit development.

    Thirdly, the psychological toolkit will be feasibility tested. We expect the toolkit to be delivered in parent groups. Parents will be referred from paediatric allergy clinics. We will ask parents to complete questionnaires before, during and after the groups. We will also follow up parents after three months. Feasibility testing will tell us if any changes are needed. It will not give us an answer to the question of whether the toolkit reduces anxiety and improves quality of life. It will tell us though whether we should do a larger study to test whether it leads to improvements for parents.

  • REC name

    East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    18/EM/0368

  • Date of REC Opinion

    8 Jan 2019

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion