# Preventing Peanut Allergy in Young Children: Identifying Barriers to Protocol Engagement and Adherence

> **NIH NIH F32** · RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL · 2022 · $69,490

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
This F32 National Research Service Award will support the applicant’s long-term career goal of becoming an
independent investigator examining effective approaches to disease management in pediatric chronic illness.
Consistent with this goal, the proposed study will focus on extending the applicant’s research to the
examination of families’ barriers to initiating and adhering to NIAID guidelines to prevent the development of
peanut allergy (PA). PA is the most commonly reported food allergy (FA), tends to develop early in childhood,
and is rarely outgrown. PA poses serious medical risks, accounting for the majority of fatal anaphylactic
responses. In 2015, the Learning Early about Peanut Allergy (LEAP) trial demonstrated the effectiveness and
feasibility of preventing the onset of PA in infants at risk of developing PA; infants regularly ingesting peanut
protein were less likely to develop a PA than those avoiding peanuts. Consistent infant consumption of peanuts
has proven challenging, however, as early introduction studies report non-adherence ranging from 25-65%.
Limited information is known about what factors impact families’ knowledge of guidelines for early introduction
of peanut protein, willingness to initiate early introduction, and ability to initiate early introduction of peanuts, all
of which are essential components of successful PA prevention. The aims of the study are to (1a) develop a
typology of patterns of caregiver knowledge of, willingness to initiate, and means to initiate early introduction of
peanuts for caregivers of young children at risk of PA; (1b) examine predictors of patterns of characteristics
related to initiation of peanut early introduction; (2a) identify factors associated with initiation and adherence to
early introduction of peanuts among families recommended PA prevention; (2b) identify contextual barriers and
facilitators to early introduction initiation and adherence through in-depth qualitative interviews; and (3)
integrate quantitative and qualitative outcomes to develop an understanding of factors impeding and facilitating
initiation and adherence to early introduction of peanuts. The long-term goal of the proposed research is to
design interventions to increase families’ abilities to follow through on treatment recommendations within FA
protocols and improve long-term outcomes of children at risk of developing PA.
 A highly structured training plan will allow the applicant to conduct the proposed research and receive
individualized training to facilitate her development as an independent researcher. Through the training
activities provided by this fellowship, the applicant will (1) enhance her knowledge of the medical aspects of
FA, (2) develop expertise in qualitative and mixed-methods approaches, (3) establish proficiency in
classification modeling, and (4) advance her professional development. The applicant’s interests and training
goals are an excellent fit for the Department...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10459657
- **Project number:** 1F32AI164614-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Grace Cushman
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $69,490
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-07-12 → 2024-07-11

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10459657

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10459657, Preventing Peanut Allergy in Young Children: Identifying Barriers to Protocol Engagement and Adherence (1F32AI164614-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10459657. Licensed CC0.

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