Parental confidence in managing food allergy: development and validation of the Food Allergy Self-Efficacy Scale for Parents (FASE-P).

BACKGROUND

Food allergy is often a life-long condition that requires constant vigilance to prevent accidental exposure and avoid potentially life-threatening symptoms. Parents' confidence in managing their child's food allergy may relate to the poor quality of life anxiety and worry reported by parents of food-allergic children.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to develop and validate the first scale to measure parental confidence (self-efficacy) in managing food allergy in their child.

METHODS

The Food Allergy Self-Efficacy Scale for Parents (FASE-P) was developed through interviews with 53 parents, consultation of the literature and experts in the area. The FASE-P was then completed by 434 parents of food-allergic children from a general population sample in addition to the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), the Food Allergy Quality of Life Parental Burden Scale (FAQL-PB), the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) and the Food Allergy Impact Measure (FAIM). A total of 250 parents completed the retest of the FASE-P.

RESULTS

Factor and reliability analysis resulted in a 21-item scale with five subscales. The overall scale and subscales have good to excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α of 0.63-0.89), and the scale is stable over time. There were low to moderate significant correlations with the GSES, FAIM and GHQ-12 and strong correlations with the FAQL-PB, with better parental confidence relating to better general self-efficacy, better quality of life and better mental health in the parent. Poorer self-efficacy was related to egg and milk allergy; self-efficacy was not related to severity of allergy.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The FASE-P is a reliable and valid scale for use with parents from a general population. Its application within clinical settings could aid provision of advice and improve targeted interventions by identifying areas where parents have less confidence in managing their child's food allergy.