EAACI Task Force Logograms: Food allergy logogram to facilitate the diagnosis of food allergy in primary care

Aim Allergy management in primary care is currently not optimal in most European countries which is attributed to educational gaps as reported by general practitioners (GPs). The aim of our Task Force is to reduce the diagnostic process of five common allergic problems encountered in primary care (asthma, anaphylaxis, food allergy, drug allergy and urticaria) to a bare minimum, to facilitate the process to the many GPs who have little or no training in allergic disorders. This abstract focuses on the food allergy logogram. MethodExisting guidelines on the diagnosis of food allergy were identified: mainly the EAACI guidelines, supplemented with international and national guidelines and existing diagnostic tools in food allergy. The resulting food allergy logogram was based on a pragmatic primary care interpretation of existing guidelines. The food allergy logogram evolved during five in depth interdisciplinary discussions with the whole Task Force group including GPs, allergy specialists, researchers and clinical fellows. ResultsThe food allergy logogram consists of three schematic flow diagrams: 1) differentiating food allergy from food intolerances, 2) determining the likelihood of food allergy, 3) risk assessment of food allergy. If desired by the GP, more information behind the food allergy logogram is available in two layers. The first layer provides more information about key terms in the food allergy logogram. The second layer provides background to key terms in the information. ConclusionBased on existing mainly specialist guidelines, we developed a simple and pragmatic food allergy logogram for primary care in order to support GPs in making a (provisional) allergy diagnosis. Further steps will be peer validation and computerization of the logograms. Ultimately, a trial should be undertaken to demonstrate the utility of the allergy logograms in primary care. This may in future facilitate improved integrated care in allergy and improvement of both patient outcomes and experience of services. Implementation Science/Service Development Research Ideas on Respiratory Conditions and Tobacco Dependency Abstract Declaration of Interest All authors declare no conflict of interest in relation to this abstract. References and Clinical Trial Registry Information