TEAAMs

Title: Telemedicine as an Educational tool for caregivers regarding Auto-injectors and Anaphylaxis Management 

Rationale:

Food allergies are the most common cause of anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction) in the paediatric population. Over the last 3 decades the prevalence of food allergies in children such as peanut allergy has doubled in the US and UK. Adrenaline Auto-Injectors (AAIs) are currently the main treatment for anaphylaxis in the community. This can be a life-saving procedure, easing anaphylaxis symptoms and providing time to seek medical assessment. However, prompt recognition of anaphylaxis symptoms as well as correct administration of AAI and awareness of an anaphylaxis management plan are also needed for this treatment to be successful. 
 
Patients and caregivers should receive anaphylaxis management and AAI administration training from a healthcare professional at the time they are prescribed. This will usually be done in the setting of an allergy clinic, at a GP clinic, the emergency department or with the pharmacist. 
 
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen a shift in outpatient appointments, with the majority now being delivered via telemedicine. This is a barrier to effective caregiver education surrounding AAI administration. There is no research currently available to illustrate whether online video conferencing can be an effective method of education for caregivers regarding anaphylaxis management and AAI technique. 
 
This study will examine caregiver knowledge, assess their AAI technique prior to an online education session, and quantify improvement in caregiver AAI technique following online education session
Objectives:  
– To describe the current knowledge of anaphylaxis management in caregivers of children with food allergy.
–  To assess caregiver technique in administering an AAI
–  To deliver an online education session surrounding anaphylaxis management and AAI administration, and to assess improvement in caregiver knowledge of anaphylaxis management and AAI technique after this education session
–  To examine the brands of AAI used, reasons for change of AAI brand, and the impact this has on compliance with good AAI technique. 
–  To illustrate where caregivers have received previous AAI training
–  To determine caregiver’s perspective on patient autonomy and independence regarding allergy management and learning about the anaphylaxis management plan and adrenaline auto injector administration. 
Principal Investigator: Dr Juan Trujillo Wurttele
 
Sub-investigators: Ciobha O’Kelly, Caoimhe Cronin, Hannah Keohane, Ciara Tobin, Laura Flores Villarta