Food allergies in school: design and evaluation of a teacher-oriented training action

Italian Journal of Pediatrics

Lucia Decastelli¹  Marina Bagni³  Maria Rita Schiavo²  Anna Pinto⁴  Giulia Mascarello⁴  Licia Ravarotto⁴ 

[1] Controllo Alimenti e Igiene delle Produzioni, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, via Bologna 148, Torino, 10154, Italia;Dipartimento di ricerca biotecnologica e diagnostica specialistica, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via G. Marinuzzi 3, Palermo, 90129, Italia;Dipartimento della sanità pubblica veterinaria, della sicurezza alimentare e degli organi collegiali per la tutela della salute, Ministero della salute, Viale Giorgio Ribotta 5, Roma, 00144, Italia;Health Awareness and Communication Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell’Università 10, Legnaro, 35020, Padova, Italia

关键词: Communication actions;    Focus groups;    Teacher-oriented training;    Food allergies;   

Others  :  1137183
DOI  :  10.1186/s13052-014-0100-8

 received in 2014-02-17, accepted in 2014-11-24,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Background

Food allergies are perceived as a significant problem in school environments; as a result, a teacher’s ability to recognise and deal with allergic reactions is of fundamental importance to protect children’s health. This paper includes the results of a study conducted for the purposes of designing, implementing and monitoring a specific set of teacher-oriented communication actions.

Methods

The study involved designing, implementing and assessing five workshops. These workshops were designed on the basis of the analysis of perceptions and information needs investigated by three focus groups (25 teachers). The level of the teachers’ knowledge and appreciation of the workshops was evaluated by using two structured questionnaires (n = 158).

Results

The teachers feel that they are insufficiently informed about food allergies; this knowledge gap is confirmed by an analysis of their knowledge before participating in the workshops. According to the teachers, the information which would be most useful to them has to do with the practical management of allergies in school. They feel that there is a lack of a professional contact person for precise and reliable information on health issues. The workshops seem to be appreciated as an information method. In addition, there appears to be a need to involve all children in awareness raising activities and education projects on this subject.

Conclusions

There is an urgent need for training actions on food allergies in Italian schools, in particular the communication of practical information regarding the management of allergies and emergencies. More communication between the medical and school staff is, in particular, advisable.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Ravarotto et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

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