Evaluation of Students' General Knowledge about Food Allergies and Related Diseases Based on ISAAC Model as a Health-Based Necessity; a Case Study in Kermanshah, Iran

The prevalence of food allergies in Iranian society is increasing. Knowledge of hazardous allergic reactions is essential in the development and promotion of lifestyle. The aim of this study was to evaluate general knowledge about allergies, to improve and enhance the self-efficacy of lifestyle among students of Kermanshah province high education centers as part of Iranian scientific community.

The two main focus groups of N =1000 including students in both sexes in undergraduate and postgraduate courses in higher education centers of Kermanshah province were evaluated based on a comparative-descriptive questionnaire of ISAAC model to identify the essential points of food allergy knowledge and related diseases. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 18 using two-way t-test with significance level less than 0.001.

Information level of postgraduate women was significantly higher than other groups and it was in men significantly higher than other groups (P <0.01). The mean of knowledge based on two-way t-test with a significance level of 99% showed a significant difference from higher level of information in bio science students than non- bio science students (P <0.001).

Knowledge of allergies and related diseases can affect the quality of life of people with allergies and their families and the health of the community, however, the results showed a significant difference in information of students in other fields and sections.