Food Allergies on the College Campus: Increasing Awareness

Publication Date

Spring 2025

Presentation Length

Poster/Gallery presentation

College

Gordon E. Inman College of Nursing

Department

Nursing, School of

Student Level

Graduate

SPARK Category

Scholarship

Faculty Advisor

Dr. Laura Gray

WELL Core Type

Physical Wellness

SPARK Session

Poster: Doctorate of Nursing Practice Presentations

Presentation Type

Poster

Summary

Project Title: Food Allergies on the College Campus: Increasing Awareness

Background and Rationale: The prevalence of food allergies in the United States is high and continues to increase, affecting approximately 32 million people (10.8% of the population). Food allergies are a chronic disease, and students transitioning to college are in the age group that experiences the highest rate of lethal anaphylactic reactions related to food allergies. Current best practice guidelines recommend that colleges should have a comprehensive, campus-wide approach to food allergy awareness, management, and emergency protocol. At Belmont University, there was no campus-wide approach to addressing the needs of food-allergic students as a population. Several best-evidence recommendations were missing, including early identification of students with food allergies, resources for these students, and awareness of food allergies among non-allergic students on the campus, including resident advisors..

SMART Aim: This quality improvement project aimed to increase food allergy awareness on the Belmont University campus by 25% as measured by pre-and post-intervention surveys of students, resident advisors, and resident directors by November 30, 2024,

Methods: 1) The campus registered dietician attended and had tabling at the Towering Tradition new student orientation sessions to identify students with food allergies proactively. Identification rates were measured by the Registered Dietician, who documented the number of one-on-one meetings requested by students with food allergies. 2) Resident Advisor education specific to the role during August 2024. 3) Resident Director education specific to the role during June 2024. 4) Peer education was offered at Towering Traditions' new orientation summer sessions in June 2024 and during six Well Core events in the Fall of 2024. Awareness rates for all three groups were measured with pre- and post-education survey questions.

Outcomes: Results indicate a 23% increase in Resident Advisor, 21% in Peer, and 9% in Resident Director survey scores. Students and their families reported an appreciation for the increased awareness across campus. Students without food allergies demonstrated engagement and eagerness to learn during the six Well Core mandatory wellness sessions for undergraduate students.

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