Implications for Nursing
Chronic in nature, the prevalence
of life-threatening food allergy among
children is increasing, and the diagnosis
puts a child’s life at risk from
ingestion of common foods. As a
result, life-threatening childhood
food allergies can present a significant
burden to both children and their
parents. Research suggests that parents
of children with life-threatening
food allergies and children themselves
are subject to a variety of psychosocial
effects. Although many of
the effects are normal and anticipated,
parents must be prepared to effectively
navigate the food allergy experience
or risk increased psychological
distress or maladaptive coping
(Klinnert & Robinson, 2008).
Health care providers are in a
unique role that may serve to assist
families in successful adaptation to the
diagnosis. However, it is imperative
they understand more than just the
biomedical component. Health care
providers must take into account the
psychosocial impact food allergies
have on families to properly intervene
and support the adaptive process.
Thus, a comprehensive ap proach to
the care of children with life-threatening
food allergies and their families
should occur wherein health care
providers routinely assess psychosocial
care needs during each encounter.
Current literature suggests that
health care providers are underprepared
to address the needs of families
of children with life-threatening food
allergies. Additional research related to
the experience of parenting a child
with life-threatening food allergies is
urgently needed to better understand
how health care professionals currently
assess and meet the psychosocial
needs of these families. Research specific
to the parental psychosocial
impact post-diagnosis may be beneficial
because an increased level of burden
and distress could impair a parent’s
ability to effectively navigate and
adapt to their child’s diagnosi