AN EXPLORATORY-STUDY FROM THE PATIENTS PERSPECTIVE OF LIVING WITH ALLERGIES

Allergic disease is one of the most prevalent chronic medical conditio ns in the world. Allergen avoidance has been accepted as a form of tre atment fbr allergic disease; however, the success of treatment is ofte n dependent on how patients choose to manage their condition. The purp ose of this study was to explore how allergic conditions affect the li ves of allergy sufferers and what information they believe would be us eful to other allergy sufferers in the management of their allergic co ndition. Patients suffering from non-life-threatening allergies stated that their allergy affected many aspects of their life, such as their work, their social life, their emotional state, their physical appear ance and, hence, their interactions with others. The chronic symptoms of their condition caused the greatest concern to patients. Many of th ese participants 'accepted their condition' and undertook controlling measures as part of their daily life. In contrast, patients suffering from life-threatening allergies stated that their allergy did not affe ct their life. Knowledge of their allergic condition was more importan t than acceptance. The findings elicited from allergy sufferers identi fied how nurses can educate patients about their condition and assist them in learning to live with their condition.