Background
Methods
Selection of subjects
Statistical analyses
Results
Survey respondents
Characteristic | Frequency, N (%) |
---|---|
Total Number of Respondents | 289 |
Child’s gender | |
Male | 176 (63.4) |
Female | 99 (34.3) |
Other/Would not like to report/Missing (missing = 12) | 14 (4.8) |
Child’s grade | |
Elementary (1-5) | 182 (70.0) |
Middle (6-8) | 46 (15.9) |
High school (9-12) | 35 (12.1) |
Missing | 26 (9.0) |
Type of school | |
Public | 227 (78.6) |
Private | 16 (5.5) |
Religious School | 29 (10.0) |
Other | 17 (5.9) |
How many severe reactions has your child had in his or her lifetime | |
0 | 55 (19.0) |
1 | 88 (30.5) |
> 1 | 146 (50.5) |
How many severe reactions has your child had in school in his or her lifetime | |
0 | 237 (82.0) |
1 | 35 (12.1) |
> 1 | 17 (5.9) |
How many severe reactions has your child experienced in school in the past year | |
0 | 265 (91.7) |
1 | 19 (6.6) |
> 1 | 5 (1.7) |
To which foods is your child allergic | |
Peanut | 220 (76.1) |
Tree nut | 223 (77.2) |
Fin fish | 21 (7.3) |
Shellfish | 41 (14.2) |
Milk | 106 (36.7) |
Egg | 97 (33.56 |
Soy | 27 (9.3) |
Wheat | 26 (9.0) |
Sesame | 55 (19.0) |
Other | 69 (23.9) |
Ethnicity (Hispanic or Latino) | |
Yes | 12 (4.2) |
No | 254 (87.9) |
Unknown | 20 (6.9) |
Unspecified | 3 (1.0) |
Race | |
Black/African American | 9 (3.1) |
White | 225 (77.9) |
Asian | 11 (3.8) |
American Indian/Alaska Native | 3 (1.0)) |
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander | 0 |
Other | 16 (5.5) |
Unknown | 25 (8.7) |
Child’s comorbid conditions | |
Asthma | 161 (55.7) |
Eczema | 144 (49.8) |
Seasonal allergy | 228 (78.9) |
Indoor allergy | 98 (33.9) |
Pet allergy | 153 (52.9) |
Insect allergy | 25 (8.7) |
Medication allergy | 61 (21.0) |
None | 15 (5.2) |
Other | 9 (3.1) |
Respondent’s relationship to child | |
Mother | 263 (91.3) |
Father | 9 (3.3) |
Grandparent | 0 |
Other | 3 (1.0) |
Unknown | 14 (4.8) |
Highest level of education | |
Some secondary school (9th grade and above) | 2 (0.7) |
High school graduate or GED | 3 (1.0) |
Some college | 20 (6.9) |
College degree | 144 49.8) |
Master’s degree | 80 (27.7) |
Doctoral degree | 23 (8.0) |
Unknown | 17 (5.9) |
Income | |
< $50,000 | 18 (6.2) |
$50,000-$74,999 | 24 (8.3) |
$75,000-$99,999 | 39 (13.5) |
$100,000 or higher | 160 (55.4) |
Unknown | 48 (16.6) |
Region | |
Northeast | 102 (35.3) |
Midwest | 105 (36.3) |
South | 31 (10.7) |
West | 20 (6.9) |
Unknown | 31 (10.7) |
Food allergy and anaphylaxis policies
Policy | Yes | No | Unsure |
---|---|---|---|
N = 289 | |||
School is a generally safe environment | 210 (72.7) | 54 (18.7) | 25 (8.7) |
Epinephrine Policies | |||
Emergency (stock) epinephrine is available | 155 (53.7) | 64 (22.2) | 70 (24.2) |
Policy is Helpful (if responded “Yes”)/Needed (if responded “No”) | 146 (94.2) | 59 (92.2) | |
Children are able to carry their medications | 167 (57.8) | 86 (29.8) | 36 (12.5) |
Policy is Helpful/Needed | 156 (93.4) | 47 (54.7) | |
Child’s epinephrine is readily available in the classroom | 145 (50.2) | 129 (44.6) | 15 (5.2) |
Policy is Helpful/Needed | – | – | |
Emergency (stock) epinephrine available on all school field trips (N = 287) | 104 (36.3) | 101 (35.2) | 82 (28.6) |
Policy is Helpful/Needed | 95 (91.4) | 82 (81.2) | |
Who carries epinephrine on field trips (if responded “Yes”) | |||
Teacher | 60 (58.3) | ||
School-appointed chaperone | 15 (14.6) | ||
School nurse | 8 (7.8) | ||
Unsure | 6 (5.8) | ||
Other | 14 (13.6) | ||
Emergency (stock) epinephrine available for after-school activities | 30 (10.4) | 136 (47.1) | 123 (42.6) |
Policy is Helpful/Needed | 29 (96.7) | 119 (88.8) | |
Who carries epinephrine during after-school activities (if responded “Yes”) | |||
Athletic trainer | 1 (3.3) | ||
School nurse | 3 (10.0) | ||
School staff | 7 (23.3) | ||
Other | 19 (63.3) | ||
Emergency (stock) epinephrine travels with every group | 33 (11.4) | 99 (34.3) | 157 (54.3) |
Policy is Helpful/Needed | 29 (87.9) | 82 (82.8) | |
Who carries epinephrine during after-school activities (if responded “Yes”) | |||
Athletic trainer | 1 (3.0) | ||
School nurse | 4 (12.1) | ||
School staff | 10 (30.3) | ||
Coach/teacher | 9 (27.3) | ||
Other | 11 (33.3) | ||
Lunchroom Policies | |||
Designated lunch areas for students with food allergies | 184 (63.4) | 78 (27) | 27 (9.3) |
Policy is Helpful/Needed | 128 (69.6) | 25 (32.1) | |
School lunch menus with allergen information available | 100 (34.6) | 128 (44.3) | 61 (21.1) |
Policy is Helpful/Needed | 93 (93) | 110 (85.9) | |
Food items are labeled with allergen information | 36 (12.5) | 144 (49.8) | 109 (37.7) |
Policy is Helpful/Needed | 33 (91.7) | 116 (80.6) | |
Clear cleaning procedures in the lunchroom | 160 (55.4) | 34 (11.8) | 95 (32.9) |
Policy is Helpful/Needed | 152 (95) | 31 (91.2) | |
Classroom Policies | |||
Snack policy in the classroom | 178 (61.6) | 98 (33.9) | 13 (4.5) |
Policy is Helpful/Needed | 159 (89.3) | 63 (64.3) | |
Strict food guidelines for celebrations (holidays and birthdays) (N = 287) | 153 (53.3) | 120 (41.9) | 14 (4.9) |
Policy is Helpful/Needed | 138 (90.2) | 96 (80) | |
What are the recommendations (if responded “Yes”) | |||
Food with a clear ingredient label is allowed | 59 (38.6) | ||
No food is allowed | 48 (31.4) | ||
Unsure | 4 (2.6) | ||
Other | 42 (27.5) | ||
Field Trip & After-School Policies | |||
When food is not provided by the school for field trips, all parents are provided with food guidelines | 74 (25.6) | 154 (53.3) | 61 (21.1) |
Policy is Helpful/Needed | 58 (78.4) | 104 (69.3) | |
Strict food policies for after-school activities | 23 (8.0) | 161 (55.7) | 105 (36.3) |
Policy is Helpful/Needed | 22 (95.7) | 120 (74.5) | |
Concessions are clearly labeled for food allergens | 18 (6.2) | 152 (52.6) | 119 (41.2) |
Policy is Helpful/Needed | 18 (100) | 133 (87.5) | |
Food Allergy Education Policies | |||
Training and education for students | 31 (10.7) | 207 (71.6) | 51 (17.7) |
Policy is Helpful/Needed | 28 (90.3) | 177 (85.5) | |
Educational materials in the lunchroom relating to food allergy | 18 (6.2) | 176 (60.9) | 95 (32.9) |
Policy is Helpful/Needed | 14 (77.8) | 136 (77.3) | |
Educational materials in the classroom relating to food allergy (N = 287) | 16 (5.6) | 210 (73.2) | |
Policy is Helpful/Needed | 13 (81.3) | 161 (76.7) | 61 (21.3) |
Transportation Policies | |||
Children take the school bus to/from school | 129 (44.6) | 155 (53.6) | 5 (1.7) |
Adult on school bus to/from school is trained on allergic reactions (if responded “Yes”) | 48 (37.2) | 33 (25.6) | 48 (37.2) |
Associations between food allergy policies and school characteristics
Policy | Grade Level | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Elementary | Middle | High | Unknown | |
N = 182 | N = 46 | N = 35 | N = 26 | |
School is a generally safe environment | 137 (75.3) | 34 (73.9) | 24 (68.6) | 15 (57.7) |
Epinephrine Policies | ||||
Emergency (stock) epinephrine is available | 95 (52.2) | 28 (60.9) | 20 (57.1) | 12 (46.2) |
Children are able to carry their medications | 86 (47.3) | 36 (78.3) | 32 (91.4) | 13 (50.0)** |
Child’s epinephrine is readily available in the classroom | 94 (51.7) | 22 (47.8) | 16 (45.7) | 13 (50.0) |
Emergency (stock) epinephrine available on all school field trips | 63 (34.6) | 20 (13.4) | 9 (25.7) | 12 (46.2) |
Emergency (stock) epinephrine available for after-school activities | 14 (7.7) | 10 (21.7) | 4 (11.4) | 2 (7.7) |
Emergency (stock) epinephrine travels with groups outside of school | 18 (9.9) | 6 (13.0) | 5 (14.3) | 4 (15.4) |
Lunchroom Policies | ||||
Designated lunch areas for students with food allergies | 132 (72.5) | 31 (67.4) | 7 (20.0) | 14 (53.9)** |
School lunch menus with allergen information available | 54 (29.7) | 18 (39.1) | 16 (45.7) | 12 (46.2) |
Food items are labeled with allergen information | 24 (13.2) | 4 (8.7) | 5 (14.3) | 3 ((11.5) |
Clear cleaning procedures in the lunchroom | 110 (60.4) | 30 (65.2) | 7 (20.0) | 13 (50.0)** |
Classroom-Specific Policies | ||||
Snack policy in the classroom | 127 (69.8) | 24 (52.2) | 11 (31.4) | 16 (61.5)** |
Strict food guidelines for celebrations (holidays and birthdays) | 103 (56.6) | 25 (54.4) | 12 (34.3) | 13 (50)** |
Field Trip & After School Policies | ||||
When food is not provided by the school for field trips, all parents are provided with food guidelines | 52 (28.6) | 10 (21.7) | 5 (14.3) | 7 (26.9) |
Strict food policies for after-school activities | 14 (7.7) | 5 (6.5) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (11.5) |
Concessions are clearly labeled for food allergens | 11 (6.0) | 4 (8.7) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (11.5) |
Food Allergy Education Policies | ||||
Training and education for students | 22 (12.1) | 5 (10.9) | 2 (5.7) | 2 (7.7) |
Educational materials in the lunchroom relating to food allergy | 8 (4.4) | 5 (10.9) | 2 (5.7) | 3 (11.5) |
Educational materials in the classroom relating to food allergy | 9 (5.0) | 2 (4.4) | 2 (5.7) | 3 (11.5) |
Children take school bus to/from school | 82 (45.1) | 25 (54.4) | 14 (40.0) | 8 (30.8) |
Adult on school bus is trained on allergic reactions | 32 (39.0) | 12 (48.0) | 2 (14.3) | 2 (25.0) |
Policy | Type of School | |
---|---|---|
Private | Public | |
N = 62 | N = 227 | |
School is a generally safe environment | 44 (71.0) | 166 (73.1) |
Epinephrine Policies | ||
Emergency (stock) epinephrine is available | 29 (46.8) | 126 (55.1) |
Children are able to carry their medications | 37 (59.7) | 130 (57.3) |
Child’s epinephrine is readily available in the classroom | 39 (62.9) | 106 (46.7)* |
Emergency (stock) epinephrine available on all school field trips | 25 (40.3) | 79 (34.8) |
Emergency (stock) epinephrine available for after-school activities | 9 (14.5) | 21 (9.3) |
Emergency (stock) epinephrine travels with groups outside of school | 9 (14.5) | 24 (10.6) |
Lunchroom Policies | ||
Designated lunch areas for students with food allergies | 31 (50.0) | 153 (67.4)* |
School lunch menus with allergen information available | 18 (29.0) | 82 (36.1) |
Food items are labeled with allergen information | 9 (14.5) | 27 (11.9) |
Clear cleaning procedures in the lunchroom | 37 (59.7) | 123 (54.2) |
Classroom Policies | ||
Snack policy in the classroom | 36 (58.1) | 142 (62.6) |
Strict food guidelines for celebrations (holidays and birthdays) | 27 (43.6) | 126 (55.5) |
Field Trip & After-School Policies | ||
When food is not provided by the school for field trips, all parents are provided with food guidelines | 24 (38.7) | 50 (22.0)** |
Strict food policies for after-school activities | 8 (12.9) | 15 (6.6) |
Concessions are clearly labeled for food allergens | 4 (6.5) | 14 (6.2)) |
Food Allergy Education Policies | ||
Training and education for students | 11 (17.7) | 20 (8.8)* |
Educational materials in the lunchroom relating to food allergy | 9 (14.5) | 9 (4.0)** |
Educational materials in the classroom relating to food allergy | 5 (8.1) | 11 (4.9) |
Children take school bus to/from school | 17 (27.4) | 112 (49.3) |
Adult on school bus is trained on allergic reactions | 6 (35.3) | 42 (37.5) |
Policy | Region | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Northeast | Midwest | South | West | Unknown | |
N = 102 | N = 105 | N = 31 | N = 20 | N = 31 | |
School is generally safe environment | 82 (80.4) | 75 (71.4) | 22 (71.0) | 11 (55.0) | 20 (64.5) |
Epinephrine Policies | |||||
Emergency (stock) epinephrine is available | 54 (52.9) | 59 (56.2) | 17 (54.8) | 8 (40.0) | 17 (54.8) |
Children are able to carry their medications | 52 (51.0) | 65 (61.9) | 17 (54.8) | 13 (65.0) | 20 (64.5) |
Child’s epinephrine is readily available in the classroom | 46 (45.1) | 57 (54.3) | 18 (58.1) | 7 (35.0) | 17 (54.8) |
Emergency (stock) epinephrine available on all school field trips | 34 (33.3) | 42 (40.0) | 12 (38.7) | 2 (10.0) | 14 (45.2) |
Emergency (stock) epinephrine available for after-school activities | 9 (8.82) | 16 (15.2) | 3 (9.7) | 1 (5.0) | 1 (3.2) |
Emergency (stock) epinephrine travels with groups outside of school | 13 (12.8) | 11 (10.5) | 1 (3.2) | 1 (5.0) | 7 (22.6) |
Lunchroom Policies | |||||
Designated lunch areas for students with food allergies | 63 (61.8) | 74 (70.5) | 20 (64.5) | 8 (40.0) | 19 (61.3) |
School lunch menus with allergen information available | 36 (35.3) | 28 (26.7) | 14 (45.2) | 9 (45.0) | 13 (41.9) |
Food items are labeled with allergen information | 20 (19.6) | 10 (9.5) | 1 (3.2) | 0 (0.0) | 5 (16.1)* |
Clear cleaning procedures in the lunchroom | 60 (58.8) | 57 (54.3) | 18 (58.1) | 9 (45.0) | 16 (51.6) |
Classroom Policies | |||||
Snack policy in the classroom | 64 (62.8) | 70 (66.7) | 20 (64.5) | 8 (40.0) | 16 (51.6) |
Strict food guidelines for celebrations (holidays and birthdays) | 61 (59.8) | 59 (56.2) | 11 (35.5) | 6 (30.0) | 16 (51.6)* |
Field Trip & After-School Policies | |||||
When food is not provided by the school for field trips, all parents are provided with food guidelines | 30 (29.4) | 24 (22.9) | 6 (16.1) | 4 (20.0) | 11 (35.5) |
Strict food policies for after-school activities | 8 (7.8) | 11 (10.5) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (5.0) | 3 (9.7) |
Concessions are clearly labeled for food allergens | 6 (5.9) | 6 (5.7) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (10.0) | 4 (12.9) |
Food Allergy Education Policies | |||||
Training and education for students | 10 (9.8) | 13 (12.4) | 3 (9.7) | 2 (10.0) | 3 (9.7) |
Educational materials in the lunchroom relating to food allergy | 5 (4.9) | 9 (8.6) | 2 (6.5) | 1 (5.0) | 1 (3.2) |
Educational materials in the classroom relating to food allergy | 5 (4.9) | 4 (3.8) | 3 (9.7) | 2 (10.0) | 2 (6.45) |
Children take school bus to/from school | 65 (63.7) | 30 (28.6) | 16 (51.6) | 4 (20.0) | 14 (45.2) |
Adult on school bus is trained on allergic reactions | 16 (24.6) | 13 (43.3) | 13 (81.3) | 1 (25.0) | 5 (35.7)** |