Milk allergy school: Nutritional therapy in group for parents of children with cow''s milk allergy/intolerance in Primary Health Care

The objective of this study was to create a method for group nutritional therapy for parents of children with cow's milk allergy/intolerance in a paediatric primary care setting to increase accessibility to nutritional therapy. A second objective was to evaluate a milk allergy school. Follow-up time after the group session was 3 yr. All parents to newly diagnosed children (n=98) with cow's milk allergy/intolerance in the Primary Health Care system in the city of Goteborg during an 11-month period were invited. The majority of the families chose to participate (n=84, 86%). The mean age of the children was 9 months (3 months to 5 yr). The number of participants obtaining nutritional treatment within a month after diagnosis has significantly increased. Seventy-four families (88%) could be re-contacted 3 yr after participation for a second evaluation. Seventy-eight per cent of the children no longer had cow's milk allergy/intolerance. Most participants expressed satisfaction with the information obtained in the meeting. The milk allergy school does not replace but complements individual counselling. The milk allergy school seems to meet the families' needs for information, has few administrative routines and is cost-efficient. This activity has become permanent, is being offered weekly and can be recommended.