Caregiver Perceptions and Lifestyle Behaviors After Completion of Peanut Immunotherapy: A Long-Term Follow-Up Study

In the era of a regulatory approved product for peanut allergy, there is an unmet need to understand the long-term effects of peanut immunotherapy treatment on lifestyle behaviors. This survey strives to expand upon prior work to capture caregiver perspectives, which may influence quality of life. Participants who were successfully desensitized with oral or sublingual immunotherapy (OIT or SLIT) at the University of North Carolina were advised to incorporate peanut into their diet after completion of the study. Approximately 176 past OIT or SLIT participants were invited to complete a 21-question online survey addressing the following domains: peanut food consumption, perceived risks, self-efficacy, health utilization, and risk-taking behaviors. Survey questions regarding lifestyle and emotional impact were adapted from validated questionnaires, the FAQLQ-PF and FAQL-PB. Approximately 65 of the 87 participants (74.7%) who submitted the survey continued to eat recommended amounts of peanut foods after trial completion. In addition to regular consumption of dietary peanut, 86% of participants ate foods with a range of various precautionary labeling (≥3 different labels) for peanut allergy. About 90% of caregivers reported their child’s peanut allergy would not limit or hardly limit their family’s vacation plans or participation in social activities. Peanut immunotherapy is traditionally considered an adjunctive therapy to strict avoidance of the dietary allergen with the intent of mitigating the effects of accidental exposures. Caregiver perceptions on the role of peanut immunotherapy, however, may extend beyond simply providing a protective buffer to accidental ingestion, which in turn, may potentially impact quality of life.