title: Development of the scale of psychosocial factors in food allergy (SPS-FA).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Food allergy (FA) is a growing condition among children and it's psychological impact over the patients and their caregivers is well known, establishing a vicious circle that perpetuates stress levels. However, psychosocial factors are not commonly included in allergy treatments. Based on the lack of evidence of records about a scale that indicates the level of interaction between biopsychosocial factors in the patient-caregivers dyad for FA, the present research aims to develop a scale with these characteristics as a helpful tool to achieve a more comprehensive system of health care.
  
  
  METHODS
  A preliminary 28-item scale was generated (sample N = 99). The scale was adjusted in contents and language after expert opinion and application on patients. A factor analysis was carried out selecting the items from the final scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The final 9-item scale included three areas: impact on quality of life, social impact and conflicts. The scale had a good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.870) and correlated significantly with anxiety and depression measurements. Moreover, it was able to discriminate between study groups (members and non-members of peer support groups) and proved construct validity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SPS-FA is the first scale for the assessment of the interaction of biopsychosocial factors on FA that includes the patient-caregiver dyad. Its application might be relevant for future research, and it can provide the clinician and the researcher with a solid tool to define which type of psychosocial support is required to provide a more comprehensive care in FA.
authors.affiliation: Section of Immunology, HIV and Allergy, Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cortes
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sciaraffia
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003863:Depression; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: caregiver; children; food allergy; psychosocial; quality of life; scale