Parenting a child with medically diagnosed severe food allergies in New Zealand: the experience of being unsupported in keeping their children healthy and safe.

AIMS: To explore parental experiences of caring for a child with medically diagnosed severe food allergies (MDSFA) in New Zealand.
METHOD: This study employed a qualitative methodology, interpretive descriptive analysis, and involved interviews with four parents of children with MDSFA from two different regions in New Zealand.
RESULTS: The analysis of the interviews revealed that the experience of parenting a child with MDSFA is an experience of feeling unsupported in the effort to keep the child healthy and safe. Three major themes emerge from this study: the experience of isolation, the burden of accessing resources, and the cost of living with MDSFA.
CONCLUSION: The general lack of support experienced by these families from health care professionals is a significant concern both for primary and tertiary health care providers. Multi-disciplinary support is required for these families, and currently there is a lack of health care professionals with the knowledge to support these families. This research highlights that there is a significant need for both workforce development and further research in the area of MDSFA in New Zealand.