Prevention and Management of Food Allergies
Prevention and Management of Food Allergies
This pilot study will test the use of visual cues to engage food service workers in
 protecting patrons with food allergies. Food service workers from Philadelphia quick-service
 restaurants were recruited to participate in a survey of attitudes that includes an embedded
 randomized experiment testing an experimental cue (photograph of an allergic child) to
 increase workers' engagement and empathy.
Aim: Investigators pilot-tested a novel strategy to engage food service workers, by using a
 visual cue to increase the workers empathy for and desire to protect the patrons health and
 safety.

 Why intervene with food service workers? Both food allergies and allergenic foods are common,
 as is eating, making accidental ingestion of allergenic foods almost inevitable. Risks may be
 particularly pronounced in out-of-home contexts (restaurants, school cafeterias, etc.), where
 the food allergic person must rely on service workers to assure their safety. Therefore, food
 service workers are important partners in the prevention of adverse events.

 Design: Within the context of a survey of food service workers, investigators embedded a
 randomized experiment. In this experiment, investigators randomly assigned survey
 participants to one of two conditions: a Personalized vs. Depersonalized Chef Card.
 Depersonalized Chef Cards included simple written instructions regarding the patron's
 specific food allergies, including explicit guidance regarding foods to be avoided and
 information regarding the seriousness of the allergy. Personalized Chef Cards included
 identical written instructions and information, as well as a photograph of a patron with food
 allergies.

 Hypothesis: Service workers exposed to the Personalized (compared to Depersonalized) Chef
 Cards will demonstrate greater empathy, sympathy, willingness to help, and vigilance
 regarding food allergies and their management.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Employed at a quick-service restaurant

 -  Speaks English

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Work at a table-only establishment