Researchers receive NPB grant to develop online food allergy support tool

Researchers receive NPB grant to develop online food allergy support tool

A team led by Professor Rebecca Knibb from Aston University's Department of Psychology has received a grant from the US National Peanut Board (NPB) to develop an online food allergy support tool.

Food Allergy Coping Empowerment Tools and Support (FACETS) is a self-directed online food allergy coping support tool for adults with food allergies and caregivers of children with food allergies. FACETS is based on psychological theories such as cognitive behavioral therapy and was developed by psychologists, adult patients and carers in the UK, USA, Australia and Canada. It focuses on aspects where patients and carers reported needing support.

FACETS, which is still in development, is interactive and has a number of modules, such as managing anxiety and communicating about food allergies. The modules include information and exercises, for example practicing asking about allergens in a restaurant. There are sections where the user can answer questions or set goals. The system saves these as well as the user's progress as they work through the individual modules. The tool is being developed in collaboration with Design Factory Birmingham, a creative design and digital innovation space at Aston University.

FACETS is part of the Global Access to Psychological Services (GAPS) study, a multinational collaboration of researchers, clinicians, patients and patient organizations that have examined psychological support needs and people's experiences with health services in more than 20 countries worldwide.

Professor Knibb said:

"The money from NPB will allow us to develop additional modules that are requested by patients and caregivers, such as stress management, and we will also work with youth to develop modules specifically for them. We will then test the effectiveness of the new modules in a pilot study to see if they also reduce anxiety, improve quality of life and self-efficacy. The end goal is to make FACETS available for free to anyone who wants to use it. Before we can do that, we must make sure it’s helpful – which is why it’s not publicly available.” The research will continue over the next year and FACETS will be made available to the public once the program has been evaluated.”

The grant to Professor Knibb and the FACETS team is one of nine grants awarded by the NPB in its most recent round of funding for food allergy research, totaling more than $450,000. It was the only scholarship awarded outside the United States.

The National Peanut Board is proud to play a catalytic role in allergy research – often providing the seed funding that enables promising projects in prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management to attract additional investment and achieve broader impact for families and patients.”

Ryan Lepicier, NPB President and CEO

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