Background

The burden of food allergy (FA) is greater amongst South Asians (SAs) in High Income Countries.

Objective

Investigate facilitators/barriers for healthcare professionals (HCPs) in FA management in SAs.

Methods

HCPs involved in the management of SA adults with FA were recruited for online, semi-structured interviews. Interviews were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Thirty HCPs (White–46%; Indian– 34%; Pakistani–7%; Sri Lankan – 10%; not disclosed – 3%; allergists, immunologists and general practitioners (77%), nurses (13%) dietitians (7%) and a pharmacist (3%) were interviewed. Three major themes were generated: (1) cultural and social influences on health - patient reliance on traditional medicine, scepticism toward conventional therapies, and strong family influence in decision-making (2) patient characteristics and behaviour - presence of unique allergens in SA diets adding complexity to diagnosis and management. Younger patients were regarded more proactive, whilst older patients relied on family members for translation and decision-making (3) healthcare communication and support - language barriers, interpreter limitations, and cultural misunderstandings hindered care. HCPs highlighted a need for multidisciplinary teams, culturally tailored dietary guidance and training in cultural competency. They felt constrained by limited consultation times and long waiting times.

Conclusion

There is a need for a multipronged and multidisciplinary strategic approach to address inequalities in FA management amongst SA patients targeting some key areas including development of culturally tailored multimodality resources for patients and their families, education and training for HCPs in SA cuisine/allergens and cultural competency alongside adaptive changes in the health service framework.