Determination of Teachers’ Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Self-Efficacy and Knowledge Levels

This study aims to determine teachers’ food allergy and anaphylaxis management self-efficacy and knowledge levels.

This descriptive study was conducted with 399 teachers who worked in kindergarten and primary schools in a city center between March and June 2022. Data were collected through the Descriptive Characteristics Form and the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Self-efficacy Scale for School Personnel. Data were analyzed in SPSS statistical program (version 18) using descriptive statistical analyses, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov analysis, the Mann-Whitney U test, the Kruskal-Wallis test, and the Spearman correlation analysis. Statistical significance was accepted P<0.05.

The mean age of participating teachers was 31.18± 6.79 years, and 67.2% (n=268) were females, 61.9% (n=247) were married, 63.7% (n=254) were classroom teachers, and 56.6% (n=226) did not have children. Teachers’ Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Self-Efficacy Scale mean score was 21.21±6.22. Food allergy and anaphylaxis management self-efficacy was higher in kindergarten teachers, teachers who had a student with food allergy, those who received first aid education after starting to work, those who think that food allergy and anaphylaxis management in school is the teachers' duty, and those who wanted to know about food allergy and anaphylaxis management. Teachers with low self-efficacy felt/would feel most frequently panic while managing a child with food allergy (P<0.05).

Teachers were found to have an inadequate level of food allergy and anaphylaxis management self-efficacy. Teachers who worked with little children, who received first-aid education, who had students with food allergy diagnosis, who wanted to be proficient on this issue and who saw this as a duty; namely who had awareness about the issue had higher food allergy and anaphylaxis management self-efficacy.