Implementing information and communication technology education on food allergy and anaphylaxis in the school setting

Abstract

Introduction: Every year, 1/10,000 children experiences a food-anaphylactic reaction. Most of these events, including attack-related deaths, may happen during the school hours. In the current study, we assessed the influence of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the school-staff's education on food allergy and anaphylaxis (FAA). Methods:The target population of this intervention was non-university teaching centers from the local Regional Education Council, including both state and private institutions. The digital intervention was supported by the free-of-charge and open-source learning-management Aulatic Educational Platform. Structured questionnaires were developed to evaluate the educators' knowledge, feelings, and self-efficacy on FAA, in addition to a satisfaction and quality survey of the training program. Results: A total of 1748 school-educators were virtually enrolled from May 2016 to June 2020 in one of the 8-week course editions, with 80.6% of attendees successfully completing the full training. All scores concerning school-staff's basic knowledge and self-efficacy on FAA significantly improved after the educational intervention, reaching a high level of satisfaction among participants (98.5%) over the 4-year educational program. Conclusion:Our results highlighted the effectiveness of a focused e-learning activity to improve teachers and school caretakers in the management of food allergic scholars and anaphylactic reactions during the school hours.The use of ICTs tools should become an integrated part of curricular frameworks in non-university education, leading to a better care of FAA school children.

The paradigm shift in allergy consultations through a digital ecosystem

“…Providing individual patient education in face-to-face sessions is costly, and although some patients prefer personalized learning, reaching a larger audience is essential ( 24 ). To address this, we currently offer on-line courses for teachers, doctors, and utilize media platforms, collaborating with medical and patient associations for effective educational strategies ( 16 , 17 ).…”

“…Additionally, since 2016, our Allergy Department has also coordinated an ongoing online certified educational program for schoolteachers covering the region (Canary Islands), focusing on the management of food allergies and asthma. From May 2016 to June 2020, over 1,748 educators participated, achieving a 98.5% satisfaction rate among those who completed the intended training ( 16 ).…”