Video-based food allergy and anaphylaxis training for primary and middle school students

Schools are critical environments for food allergy (FA) because the majority of allergic reactions occur in schools. This study aimed to evaluate both the immediate effect and the retention of knowledge after 2 weeks of a video-based training on FA and anaphylaxis awareness among primary and middle school students.

In this prospective study, children aged 6 to 15 years watched a 17.5-min "FA and Anaphylaxis Awareness" video. The effectiveness was assessed using the "FA and Anaphylaxis Awareness Form" administered before, immediately after, and 2 weeks after the training.

A total of 1492 children were included in the study; 42.0% of the children were male and 52.9% were attending primary school. Before training, 41.8% did not recognize FA symptoms, 49.1% could not identify signs of anaphylaxis, and only 9.5% knew the term "anaphylaxis." Posttraining, 72.5% had learned "anaphylaxis" and knowledge of symptoms increased significantly. At 2 weeks after training, 65.9% of students recalled the term "anaphylaxis," and the proportion unable to identify signs of FA and anaphylaxis decreased to 18.8% and 19.6%, respectively. The percentage of students unaware of allergy-related recommendations decreased from 23.0% to 6.8%. Those reporting reading ingredient labels and sharing allergen-free foods increased from 60.5% to 75.4%. Initially, only 13.3% identified correct anaphylaxis positioning, improving to 54.4% at 2 weeks after training.

This study suggests that training given to students is an effective way to increase FA and anaphylaxis awareness in schools, and that utilizing the effectiveness and practicality of video-based training is a viable strategy for children.