title: Food allergies in school: design and evaluation of a teacher-oriented training action.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Food allergies are perceived as a significant problem in school environments; as a result, a teacher's ability to recognise and deal with allergic reactions is of fundamental importance to protect children's health. This paper includes the results of a study conducted for the purposes of designing, implementing and monitoring a specific set of teacher-oriented communication actions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study involved designing, implementing and assessing five workshops. These workshops were designed on the basis of the analysis of perceptions and information needs investigated by three focus groups (25 teachers). The level of the teachers' knowledge and appreciation of the workshops was evaluated by using two structured questionnaires (n = 158).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The teachers feel that they are insufficiently informed about food allergies; this knowledge gap is confirmed by an analysis of their knowledge before participating in the workshops. According to the teachers, the information which would be most useful to them has to do with the practical management of allergies in school. They feel that there is a lack of a professional contact person for precise and reliable information on health issues. The workshops seem to be appreciated as an information method. In addition, there appears to be a need to involve all children in awareness raising activities and education projects on this subject.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is an urgent need for training actions on food allergies in Italian schools, in particular the communication of practical information regarding the management of allergies and emergencies. More communication between the medical and school staff is, in particular, advisable.
authors.affiliation: Health Awareness and Communication Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Padova, Italia. lravarotto@izsvenezie.it.
authors.forename: Licia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ravarotto
authors.affiliation: Health Awareness and Communication Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Padova, Italia. gmascarello@izsvenezie.it.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mascarello
authors.affiliation: Health Awareness and Communication Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Padova, Italia. apinto@izsvenezie.it.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di ricerca biotecnologica e diagnostica specialistica, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via G. Marinuzzi 3, 90129, Palermo, Italia. mariarita.schiavo@izssicilia.it.
authors.forename: Maria Rita
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Schiavo
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento della sanità pubblica veterinaria, della sicurezza alimentare e degli organi collegiali per la tutela della salute, Ministero della salute, Viale Giorgio Ribotta 5, 00144, Roma, Italia. marina.bagni@sanita.it.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bagni
authors.affiliation: Controllo Alimenti e Igiene delle Produzioni, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, via Bologna 148, 10154, Torino, Italia. lucia.decastelli@izsto.it.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Decastelli
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D004630:Emergencies / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012574:Schools; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires