| Popis: |
Background: Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening condition. As accidental exposure to the offending allergens usually happens in the community, in absence of medical personnel, adrenaline auto-injector (AAI), carried by parents, remains the first and only drug of choice. As studies have shown that AAI is commonly underused by parents, this study was undertaken to elucidate the causes of its underutilization in our community.Methods: A cohort of parents attending the paediatric allergy clinic at Al Ain hospital, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), completed a questionnaire survey aimed to assess their understanding and knowledge of their child’s allergy management, including their aptitude with the use the AAI, as well as their competence and comfort to provide this treatment in an emergency. Results: A total of 47 parents, 83% of whom were Emirati, including 66% of mothers, participated in the study. Food allergy was the main indication for AAI prescription, with tree nuts 62%) and peanuts (38%) being the main culprits. The majority (94%) of parents were trained by a doctor on using the AAI, with most (79%) demonstrating a good knowledge of indications for administering the AAI. Although all parents expressed satisfaction with the training that they had received, they still admitted to a remaining lack of confidence with using an AAI. Conclusions: The continuous education and training of parents on how to use an AAI, still requires supplementary psychological support to overcome their fear and anxiety with using the device in an urgent situation. More research is needed to explore the reasons behind their fear and anxiety to plan effective interventions. |
