title: Reintroduction failure is common among adolescents after double-blind placebo-controlled food challenges.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There has been a lack of research on adolescents who undergo double-blind placebo-controlled food challenges. The aim of this study was to investigate food allergic adolescents' experiences and consequences of double-blind placebo-controlled food challenges.
  
  
  METHODS
  This qualitative, descriptive interview study included 17 adolescents aged 14-15 years with total elimination of cows' milk, hens' eggs or cod due to food allergies. The participants, who were initially identified from a large population-based cohort study, were interviewed 18 months after completing their challenges.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge proved to be a complex experience for the adolescents, involving fear of potential reactions and the hope that the food could be reintroduced. Experiences during the challenge were described in three themes: facing fears in a secure environment, being hesitant but curious about unknown tastes and waiting for unknown food reactions. Experiences after the challenge were described in two themes: gaining control and freedom and continuing old habits. A negative challenge was not consistently associated with the reintroduction of the challenged food.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlighted the importance of considering the adolescents' expectations and experiences of the challenge and the reintroduction process to ensure desirable changes in their dietary habits. Follow-ups should be performed regardless of the outcome of challenges.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, The OLIN Unit, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.|Department of Nursing, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Å
authors.initials: Å
authors.lastname: Strinnholm
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Pediatrics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Winberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, The OLIN Unit, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.|Division of Nursing, Department of Health Science, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hedman
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, The OLIN Unit, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rönmark
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lindh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000523:psychology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D021181:Egg Hypersensitivity / Q000523:psychology*; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016269:Milk Hypersensitivity / Q000523:psychology*; D015990:Placebo Effect
keywords: Adolescents; Double-blind placebo-controlled food challenges; Food allergy; Qualitative study; Reintroduction