Insect Allergy: Barriers in Training and Practice-A Work Group Report of the AAAAI Anaphylaxis Committee

Area of Science:

• Allergy and Immunology
• Clinical Practice
• Medical Education

Background:

• Insect sting allergy evaluation and management is a core competency in Allergy and Immunology fellowship programs.
• The sufficiency of current training and existing barriers are not well-defined.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the extent of training in stinging insect allergy.
• To identify factors impacting clinical practice in stinging insect allergy management.

Main Methods:

• A pilot needs-assessment survey was conducted using a web-based questionnaire.
• The survey targeted a random sample of American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology members.
• Data analysis involved descriptive frequencies.

Main Results:

• High training rates (95.7%) in insect allergy were reported, but low patient volume (1-5 patients) during fellowship.
• Post-fellowship, evaluations increased significantly (up to 24-fold), with 97.3% evaluating patients.
• Patient decisions against venom immunotherapy (VIT) were the most common barrier (81.8%).

Conclusions:

• The majority of specialists receive insect allergy training, yet initial patient exposure is limited.
• Clinical practice for insect sting allergy intensifies post-fellowship, with patient reluctance being a key challenge for VIT.
• Further investigation into training needs and practice barriers is warranted.