A Qualitative Study Evaluating the Parent-Specific Cow's Milk-Related Symptom Score (Pre-CoMiSS™)

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
• Qualitative Research Methods
• Infant Health

Background:

• Cow's milk allergy (CMA) is a common childhood food allergy with diagnostic challenges.
• The Parent-Specific Cow's Milk-Related Symptom Score (Pre-CoMiSS™) tool aids parents in monitoring infant symptoms.
• Early identification and management of CMA are crucial for infant well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore parental experiences using the Pre-CoMiSS™ tool.
• To gather user feedback for identifying areas of improvement.
• To assess the tool's usability and clarity for parents of infants with suspected feeding-related symptoms.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with 20 parents in the UK and Sweden.
• Parents of infants up to 12 months with feeding-related symptoms participated.
• Thematic analysis was performed on interview data regarding the Pre-CoMiSS™ tool.

Main Results:

• The Pre-CoMiSS™ tool was well-received by parents in both countries.
• Parents found the tool's results clear, useful, and easy to understand.
• A need for additional guidance on next steps was identified, particularly by Swedish participants.

Conclusions:

• The Pre-CoMiSS™ tool is acceptable and user-friendly for parents.
• Further refinement and clearer instructions on subsequent actions are recommended.
• Formal validation is suggested prior to widespread clinical implementation.