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Validation of the Food Allergy Quality of Life—Parental Burden Questionnaire in the UK

Quality of Life Research volume 22, pages 1841–1849 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

Food allergy can have a profound effect on quality of life (QoL) of the family. The Food Allergy Quality of Life—Parental Burden Questionnaire (FAQL-PB) was developed on a US sample to assess the QoL of parents with food allergic children. The aim of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the FAQL-PB in a UK sample and to assess the effect of asking about parental burden in the last week compared with parental burden in general, with no time limit for recall given.

Methods

A total of 1,200 parents who had at least one child with food allergy were sent the FAQL-PB and the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ-PF50); of whom only 63 % responded.

Results

Factor analysis of the FAQL-PB revealed two factors: limitations on life and emotional distress. The total scale and the two sub-scales had high internal reliability (all α > 0.85). There were small to moderate but significant correlations between total FAQL-PB scores and health and parental impact measures on the CHQ-PF50 (p < 0.01). Significantly greater parental burden was reported for the no-time limited compared with the time-limited version (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

The FAQL-PB is a reliable and valid measure for use in the UK. The scale could be used in clinic to assess the physical and emotional quality of life in addition to the impact on total quality of life.

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Abbreviations

FAQL-PB:

Food Allergy Quality of Life—Parental Burden Scale

QoL:

Quality of life

CHQ-PF50:

Child Health Questionnaire—Parent Form

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the families who took part in this study and Professor Sicherer for permission to use the scale in a modified form.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Department, University of Derby, Derby, UK

    Rebecca C. Knibb & Carol Stalker

  2. Faculty of Education, Health and Sciences, School of Science, University of Derby, Kedleston Road, Derby, DE22 1GB, UK

    Rebecca C. Knibb

Authors
  1. Rebecca C. Knibb
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  2. Carol Stalker
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rebecca C. Knibb.

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Knibb, R.C., Stalker, C. Validation of the Food Allergy Quality of Life—Parental Burden Questionnaire in the UK. Qual Life Res 22, 1841–1849 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-012-0295-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-012-0295-3

Keywords

  • Food allergy
  • Parental burden
  • Quality of life
  • Validity
  • Reliability