Current status and future challenges of managing children carrying an epinephrine auto-injector in nursery schools

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26350937
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Childhood science (childhood environment science)
• Research Institution: Saitama Medical University (2016); Kiryu University (2014-2015)
• Principal Investigator: AKUZAWA Chieko 埼玉医科大学, 保健医療学部, 講師 (70596428)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 食物アレルギー児 / アナフィラキシーショック / アドレナリン自己注射薬 / 対応

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A questionnaire survey of administrators at certified nursery schools in Prefecture A showed that approximately 20% of the nursery schools preferred not to accept children carrying an epinephrine autoinjector (EpiPen). Survey data also revealed a lack of knowledge and lack of confidence in how to recognize, verify, and handle a child going into anaphylactic shock. Interviews with 30 nursery school staff (nursery school directors, assistant directors, teachers, dietitians, and nurses) at certified nursery schools in Prefecture A showed that anaphylactic shock was a large source of mental stress among the staff and that their nursery schools did not have a well-established emergency management system. Interview data also revealed that nursery school nurses felt a sense of burden and anxiety about being responsible for the emergency handling of children experiencing anaphylactic shock.

Free Research Field

小児看護学