Development of a tool to measure youths' food allergy management facilitators and barriers

Objective This study's aims are to identify factors related to allergen avoidance and epinephrine carriage among youth with food allergy, develop a tool to measure food allergy management facilitators and barriers, and investigate its initial reliability and validity. Methods The Food Allergy Management Perceptions Questionnaire (FAMPQ) was developed based on focus groups with 19 adolescents and young adults with food allergy. Additional youth with food allergy (N=92; ages: 13-21 years) completed food allergy clinical history and management questionnaires and the FAMPQ. Results Internal reliability estimates for the FAMPQ Facilitators and Barriers subscales were acceptable to good. Youth who were adherent to allergen avoidance and epinephrine carriage had higher Facilitator scores. Poor adherence was more likely among youth with higher Barrier scores. Conclusions Initial FAMPQ reliability and validity is promising. Additional research is needed to develop FAMPQ clinical guidelines.