A scoping review of the caregiver burden of pediatric food allergy

• Objective While a number of papers have described the psychosocial impact of raising a child with a food allergy, recent attempts at synthesizing this literature have been narrow in focus and/or methodologically limited. Consequently, the current study aimed to synthesize both the quantitative and qualitative literature in order to achieve a better understanding of the psychosocial and financial burdens faced by families raising children with food allergy.Data Sources Searches were performed on PubMed, Scopus, PsycInfo and CINAHL for articles related to the psychosocial and financial burden experienced by individuals caring for a child with food allergy.Study Selections English language, original research articles were included in the current review.Results A total of 53 articles were deemed eligible for review. Results from the quantitative literature revealed that parents of children with food allergy (i.e., food allergy and food protein-induced enterocolitis, proctocolitis, and enteropathy) consistently reported lower QoL relative to their comparison groups. Within-group analyses suggest that this burden is increased for parents managing multiple food allergies, severe food allergy, and comorbid allergic conditions. Thematic synthesis of the qualitative literature suggests that the psychosocial burden shouldered by parents of children with food allergy stems, in part, from the unpredictable threat of exposure as well as the practical and social burdens of managing a food allergy. In addition to psychosocial burdens, a small but growing body of literature suggests that families with food allergy also incur greater financial costs.Conclusion Findings suggest that pediatric food allergy imposes considerable burdens on parents both quantitatively and qualitatively.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Sociologi -- Socialt arbete (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Sociology -- Social Work (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

food allergy

caregiver burden

cost of illness

mixed-methods

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)