Background: Food allergy is a costly health issue that can have a negative impact on a patient’s well-being. The current study aims to evaluate the quality of life of patients with food allergies using the healthcare system, coping strategies, management knowledge, and environmental safety.
Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional, survey-based study, including patients with food allergies in the Makkah region, Saudi Arabia. To achieve the study’s aim, an online survey with 21-items was created and distributed between April and June 2021. Data were exported automatically to Excel onto Statistical Package for the Social Sciences for analysis.
Results: A total of 90 food allergy patients were included. About two-thirds (67.8%) had anaphylaxis. The most common reported food allergies were eggs and seafood equally (44.4% for each), followed by some types of fruits (41.1%), then nuts (25.6%). Regarding using the healthcare system, (63.3%) were diagnosed with food allergy by a doctor, and only (13.3%) routinely followed up. Excellent management knowledge was detected among (65.6%) of the participants. Around a third (36.7%) have at workplace/school a certified first-aid provider for allergic food reactions. For coping strategies, the patients were open to sharing their health condition with their family and friends (88.9% and 51.1%, respectively) compared to carrying a card or a self-injection of epinephrine (1.1% for each item).
Conclusion: The current study revealed excellent levels of knowledge among food-allergic patients. Nevertheless, poor practices toward the healthcare systems and inadequate environmental safety were observed. Educational projects for food-allergic patients are critical.
Key words: Quality of life, coping, safety, food allergy, Saudi Arabia
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