Pathophysiology Education Using a Pamphlet Among Early School-Age Children With Food Allergies: An Exploratory Pilot Controlled Study

To evaluate whether individual instruction using a pamphlet, compared with pamphlet distribution alone, improves the understanding of food allergy pathophysiology among early school-age children in grades 1-3 (typically aged 6-9 years).

A non-randomized exploratory pilot controlled study was conducted involving 46 early school-age children with food allergies who were undergoing oral food challenges (mean age = 7.11 ± 0.79 years; 30 girls and 16 boys). Participants were assigned sequentially according to the order of the oral food challenge to three groups: the pamphlet + individual instruction group (n = 15), pamphlet-only group (n = 14), and control group (n = 17). Self-reported understanding of selected terms and mechanisms was assessed thrice: once before (T1), follow-ups each immediately (T2), and 1 month (T3) after post-intervention.

In the pamphlet + individual instruction group, scores for mast cell, immunity, and both mechanism items improved from baseline immediately after the intervention, and these improvements remained significant at the one-month follow-up. At the immediate post-intervention assessment, the pamphlet + individual instruction group scored higher than the pamphlet-only group for mast cell and the mast cell-related mechanism item. No significant effects were observed for quality-of-life scores.

A pamphlet combined with individual instruction may provide an additional immediate educational benefit for selected food allergy concepts compared with pamphlet distribution alone. The one-month effects of both interventions varied by item. Larger studies using validated measures are needed to confirm efficacy.

Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR).

UMIN000050888. URL: https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000057998.