Patient expectations and understanding of hospital food service provision when declaring a food allergy

Abstract

Background

Food allergies are increasingly common and so hospitals must promptly identify and manage these to maintain patient safety. The present study explored patient understanding and expectations of food allergy management in hospital food services.

Methods

This exploratory descriptive study used mixed methods, including semi-structured interviews and surveys with hospital inpatients declaring food allergies, aiming to explore understanding, expectations and preferences for food allergy management in the hospital setting.

Results

Twenty-four participants were interviewed, reporting between one and six food allergies across 25 different allergens. Three main themes were identified: “Shared responsibility for declaring and managing allergens in hospital”, “Varied understanding and trust in hospital food service processes” and “Satisfactory hospital food service experience”. In the latter, participants identified 13 key factors valued for hospital food, including appearance, food quality and flavour. Remarkably, being “free from” the food allergen was not amongst the most common factors. Generally, participants felt that declaring a food allergy had not negatively impacted their hospital admission, and overall satisfaction with food services did not differ between the food allergic study participants and the general hospital population.

Conclusions

Overall, the declaration of a food allergy did not negatively impact on hospital experience. However, further investigations are required to identify the most valued factors for hospital meals, aiming to enable a more targeted approach to better meet patient expectations.