Christopher M Warren1, Anita Roach2, Rajeshree Das1, Thomas B Casale3, Brian P Vickery4, Richard L Wasserman5, Ruchi S Gupta6. 1. Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Center for Food Allergy and Asthma Research, Chicago, Ill. 2. FARE-Food Allergy Research and Education, McLean, Va. 3. FARE-Food Allergy Research and Education, McLean, Va; Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Immunology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Fla. 4. Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Ga. 5. Allergy Partners of North Texas; and Department of Pediatrics, Medical City Children's Hospital, Dallas, Texas. 6. Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Center for Food Allergy and Asthma Research, Chicago, Ill; Division of Advanced General Pediatrics and Primary Care, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Ill. Electronic address: r-gupta@northwestern.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Advances in oral immunotherapy (OIT) have led to recently expanded treatment options for food allergy (FA) patients. However, to inform future outreach efforts and ensure equitable access to emerging treatments, a greater understanding of current OIT-related awareness, attitudes, and experiences is needed. OBJECTIVE: To characterize current OIT awareness, attitudes, and experiences among a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults with FA and parents/caregivers of pediatric patients. METHODS: A probability-based sample of U.S. adults and parents/caregivers of children with FA was surveyed about OIT-related knowledge, attitudes, and experiences. RESULTS: Surveys were completed by respondents (n = 781) from all 50 states. Overall, 72% did not know what OIT was prior to the survey. Respondents from households earning over $100,000 or with a college degree each had significantly greater odds of reporting any OIT awareness compared with lower-income (odds ratio 2.0; 95% confidence interval 1.2-3.4) and non-college-educated (odds ratio 1.9; 95% confidence interval 1.2-3.0) respondents. Among respondents familiar or unfamiliar with OIT, 54% and 34%, respectively, reported their expected treatment outcome was to obtain protection against accidental exposure. Among respondents familiar or unfamiliar with OIT, 38% and 35%, respectively, reported their expected treatment outcome to be curing the allergy. Furthermore, 55% of OIT unfamiliar respondents said they would not be comfortable initiating a conversation with their health care provider about their suitability for OIT. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that, among a nationally representative sample of FA patients and pediatric caregivers, awareness of OIT is low, and over 95% of patients lack personal experience with OIT. Furthermore, the data suggest current OIT awareness is disproportionately elevated among wealthier, more highly educated respondents.
BACKGROUND: Advances in oral immunotherapy (OIT) have led to recently expanded treatment options for food allergy (FA) patients. However, to inform future outreach efforts and ensure equitable access to emerging treatments, a greater understanding of current OIT-related awareness, attitudes, and experiences is needed. OBJECTIVE: To characterize current OIT awareness, attitudes, and experiences among a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults with FA and parents/caregivers of pediatric patients. METHODS: A probability-based sample of U.S. adults and parents/caregivers of children with FA was surveyed about OIT-related knowledge, attitudes, and experiences. RESULTS: Surveys were completed by respondents (n = 781) from all 50 states. Overall, 72% did not know what OIT was prior to the survey. Respondents from households earning over $100,000 or with a college degree each had significantly greater odds of reporting any OIT awareness compared with lower-income (odds ratio 2.0; 95% confidence interval 1.2-3.4) and non-college-educated (odds ratio 1.9; 95% confidence interval 1.2-3.0) respondents. Among respondents familiar or unfamiliar with OIT, 54% and 34%, respectively, reported their expected treatment outcome was to obtain protection against accidental exposure. Among respondents familiar or unfamiliar with OIT, 38% and 35%, respectively, reported their expected treatment outcome to be curing the allergy. Furthermore, 55% of OIT unfamiliar respondents said they would not be comfortable initiating a conversation with their health care provider about their suitability for OIT. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that, among a nationally representative sample of FA patients and pediatric caregivers, awareness of OIT is low, and over 95% of patients lack personal experience with OIT. Furthermore, the data suggest current OIT awareness is disproportionately elevated among wealthier, more highly educated respondents.