Gap Analysis – Anaphylaxis and Allergy Training

ASCIA has progressed an extensive gap analysis to scope the current anaphylaxis and allergy training provided to undergraduate students in the education and healthcare sectors.

ASCIA will engage with relevant stakeholders to determine the benefits, enablers and barriers for incorporating anaphylaxis and allergy training into undergraduate courses.

Schools and Children’s Education/Care Services Project

• A survey for people studying and/or working within the education industry (schools and children’s education/care services) has been developed to determine how anaphylaxis training is being provided in undergraduate education courses throughout Australia. This survey will be available to complete during June 2023 at www.allergy.org.au/schools-childcare.
• Data from three ASCIA anaphylaxis e-training courses for staff working in schools and children's education/care services is being analysed and compiled into reports. This feedback will help guide ASCIA to further improve the courses.

Shared Care for Allergy Project 

Surveys have been developed to determine the current anaphylaxis and allergy training in undergraduate health professional degrees and to evaluate ASCIA e-training courses for health professionals: 

• Survey 1 in July 2023 for recent graduates to understand their undergraduate experience of anaphylaxis and allergy training.
• Survey 2 in August 2023 for representatives from institutions.
• Data from evaluation surveys for ASCIA anaphylaxis and allergy e-training courses for health professionals is also being analysed and a report will be developed to guide ASCIA to further improve the courses.

Reporting on Survey Results

The results of these surveys will be summarised in reports to:

• Highlight factors influencing the decision to incorporate anaphylaxis and allergy training in undergraduate degrees.
• Provide insights into the benefits of including anaphylaxis and allergy training for future educators and health professionals.
• Outline potential improvements in ASCIA e-training courses based on feedback.
• Provide feedback to assist in developing consistent minimum standards/competencies for anaphylaxis and allergy training across institutions.

Gap Analysis – Resource Management

A comprehensive review of the resources accessible to patients, carers and health professionals on the ASCIA website has been completed.  Each individual resource has been catalogued in a document that now forms an integral part of the collaborative gap analysis.

Promotion of Patient/Carer Support Organisations 

ASCIA Fast Facts are the first online resources for patients and carers that have been reviewed and updated in 2023 to ensure that plain language is used where possible and the following information is included at the start of each allergy document: For patient or carer support contact Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia or Allergy New Zealand (including weblinks). The updated ASCIA Fast Facts on 20 topics will be online at www.allergy.org.au/patients/fast-facts in early June 2023.

This news item was issued on 10 May 2023 and updated on 30 May 2023 by Jill Smith, CEO of the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA). ASCIA is the peak professional body for clinical immunology and allergy in Australia and New Zealand.