Published
| Study detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Status | In-Progress/Currently Recruiting |
| Name of research study | FOODSENS Study |
| Area of allergy research | Food allergy, Coeliac disease and Food intolerance |
| Research focus | Adults and parents of children with food hypersensitivities |
| Purpose of study | Aim of this study is to better understand, and value, the impacts to individuals living with Food Hypersensitivity |
| Location of study | Online |
| Conducted by | University of Western Australia for Food Standards Australia New Zealand |
| Ethics | Approval to conduct this research has been provided by the University of Western Australia [UWA Human Ethics number #2025/ET000011] and Aotearoa Research Ethics Committee (AREC 25_04). |
About the FOODSENS Study
This study will support Food Standards Australia New Zealand’s (FSANZ) ongoing program of work to improve its capacity to estimate the costs and benefits associated with potential future regulatory changes.
FSANZ recognises that food hypersensitivity (FHS) is an important food-related health issue with a potentially severe and enduring impact on people living with it. FHS includes individuals living with a food allergy, coeliac disease and food intolerance.
This is the first study of its kind to consider how FHS affects the quality of life of people in Australia and New Zealand. The research involves individuals living with a food allergy, coeliac disease or food intolerance:
- identifying which impacts of living with food hypersensitivity most affect their quality of life
- identifying how people value reductions in their food hypersensitivities.
How the study runs
This study will be conducted in two-stages.
Stage one - testing the survey instrument using online cognitive interviews
Interviews will take about 60 minutes. The respondent will be asked to read through the survey and then discuss their understanding of the questions with one of the researchers. The information shared will be confidential between participants and the researchers. All the findings will be aggregated, and participants will not be able to be identified.
Stage two - survey going live
Participation would involve completing a survey that takes about 20 minutes.
All answers will be anonymous and held in confidence, and the responses of everyone who participates in this survey will be combined for analysis. All information provided will only be used for research purposes.
It is planned that Stage two will occur in May 2025.
Eligibility and who can join
Adults and parents of children who live in Australia and New Zealand and have one or more of the following conditions:
- food allergy
- coeliac disease
- food intolerance.
How to join
Recruitment to the main survey will be through a market research panel, as well as via patient support groups in Australia and New Zealand. When the main survey is launched, information will be provided on their social media platforms, as well as here.
Where to find further information
Project contact is Associate Professor Michael Burton.