Understanding the Needs of Food-Allergic Adults

Food allergies are a growing issue, yet society's understanding of how individuals' lives are affected is limited. We conducted four focus groups with food-allergic adults in New Zealand to gain an in-depth understanding of the issues that impacted their quality of life. Key themes identified included allergen-free eating issues, health care system issues, costs of having a food allergy, effects on well-being, external influences (e.g., others' lack of awareness), and internal influences (personal growth and adaptation). The unmet needs of food-allergic adults led to risk taking, increased stress, and social isolation. A lack of awareness in others (including medical professionals, food service providers, and the general public) had a negative impact, suggesting that an intervention targeting awareness would be beneficial. Adaptation, particularly in terms of assertiveness and organizational skills, was important for coping, so we suggest training in these skills be made available for food-allergic patients.