‘You grow with the allergy’: a grounded theory study of families’ experiences with food allergy risk or diagnosis in early childhood
Objective Childhood food allergy is increasing in western societies. Preventing and managing food allergies is therefore essential for both parents and children. Given the limited previous research on parents’ experiences of food allergy prevention in early childhood, this study aimed to develop a g...
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BMJ Publishing Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/12/e089751.full |
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| author | Christian Apfelbacher Susanne Brandstetter Julia Weigt Madlen Hörold Katharina Gerhardinger Mara König Magdalena Rohr |
| author_facet | Christian Apfelbacher Susanne Brandstetter Julia Weigt Madlen Hörold Katharina Gerhardinger Mara König Magdalena Rohr |
| author_sort | Christian Apfelbacher |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective Childhood food allergy is increasing in western societies. Preventing and managing food allergies is therefore essential for both parents and children. Given the limited previous research on parents’ experiences of food allergy prevention in early childhood, this study aimed to develop a grounded theory to understand the experiences and interactions of families whose children are at risk of, or have been diagnosed with, food allergy.Design Using a constructivist grounded theory approach, we used initial, focused and theoretical coding, as well as constant comparative analysis and memoing to interpret our data.Setting Thematic interviews were conducted in Germany between March and September 2022.Participant We included 28 carers (25 mothers and 3 fathers) of children aged 0–3 years diagnosed with food allergy or at risk of food allergy. We recruited participants using snowball and theoretical sampling.Results We developed a theory that we named ‘negotiating uncertainty in childhood food allergy’. This theory describes the experiences and interactions of families with a child at risk or diagnosed with food allergy with the central phenomena of negotiation uncertainty. Negotiation is used to transform perceived challenges of uncertainty into feelings of competence in relation to (the prevention of) food allergy. Core themes included ‘parental roles’, ‘healthcare’, ‘childcare’, ‘informal support’ and ‘family routines’. To cope with the challenges, parents relied on two main resources: self-efficacy and health literacy.Conclusion The study highlights the dynamic process of negotiation within families at risk of or coping with paediatric food allergy. Furthermore, our findings highlight the need to promote parental health literacy. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-73a6e59fadc84bdcbb0cdc03c444b9f5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2044-6055 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-73a6e59fadc84bdcbb0cdc03c444b9f52024-12-17T20:30:08ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552024-12-01141210.1136/bmjopen-2024-089751‘You grow with the allergy’: a grounded theory study of families’ experiences with food allergy risk or diagnosis in early childhoodChristian Apfelbacher0Susanne Brandstetter1Julia Weigt2Madlen Hörold3Katharina Gerhardinger4Mara König5Magdalena Rohr6Institute of Social Medicine and Health Systems Research, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg Medical Faculty, Magdeburg, GermanyUniversity Children’s Hospital Regensburg (KUNO), Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, GermanyInstitute of Social Medicine and Health Systems Research, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg Medical Faculty, Magdeburg, GermanyInstitute of Social Medicine and Health Systems Research, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg Medical Faculty, Magdeburg, GermanyUniversity Children’s Hospital Regensburg (KUNO), Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, GermanyUniversity Children’s Hospital Regensburg (KUNO), Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, GermanyUniversity Children’s Hospital Regensburg (KUNO), Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, GermanyObjective Childhood food allergy is increasing in western societies. Preventing and managing food allergies is therefore essential for both parents and children. Given the limited previous research on parents’ experiences of food allergy prevention in early childhood, this study aimed to develop a grounded theory to understand the experiences and interactions of families whose children are at risk of, or have been diagnosed with, food allergy.Design Using a constructivist grounded theory approach, we used initial, focused and theoretical coding, as well as constant comparative analysis and memoing to interpret our data.Setting Thematic interviews were conducted in Germany between March and September 2022.Participant We included 28 carers (25 mothers and 3 fathers) of children aged 0–3 years diagnosed with food allergy or at risk of food allergy. We recruited participants using snowball and theoretical sampling.Results We developed a theory that we named ‘negotiating uncertainty in childhood food allergy’. This theory describes the experiences and interactions of families with a child at risk or diagnosed with food allergy with the central phenomena of negotiation uncertainty. Negotiation is used to transform perceived challenges of uncertainty into feelings of competence in relation to (the prevention of) food allergy. Core themes included ‘parental roles’, ‘healthcare’, ‘childcare’, ‘informal support’ and ‘family routines’. To cope with the challenges, parents relied on two main resources: self-efficacy and health literacy.Conclusion The study highlights the dynamic process of negotiation within families at risk of or coping with paediatric food allergy. Furthermore, our findings highlight the need to promote parental health literacy.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/12/e089751.full |
| spellingShingle | Christian Apfelbacher Susanne Brandstetter Julia Weigt Madlen Hörold Katharina Gerhardinger Mara König Magdalena Rohr ‘You grow with the allergy’: a grounded theory study of families’ experiences with food allergy risk or diagnosis in early childhood BMJ Open |
| title | ‘You grow with the allergy’: a grounded theory study of families’ experiences with food allergy risk or diagnosis in early childhood |
| title_full | ‘You grow with the allergy’: a grounded theory study of families’ experiences with food allergy risk or diagnosis in early childhood |
| title_fullStr | ‘You grow with the allergy’: a grounded theory study of families’ experiences with food allergy risk or diagnosis in early childhood |
| title_full_unstemmed | ‘You grow with the allergy’: a grounded theory study of families’ experiences with food allergy risk or diagnosis in early childhood |
| title_short | ‘You grow with the allergy’: a grounded theory study of families’ experiences with food allergy risk or diagnosis in early childhood |
| title_sort | you grow with the allergy a grounded theory study of families experiences with food allergy risk or diagnosis in early childhood |
| url | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/12/e089751.full |
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