In a significant stride towards enhancing healthcare, the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) proudly announces the second phase of its project to revolutionise allergy management at the primary care level. This initiative underscores EAACI’s commitment to improving patient outcomes and fostering seamless collaboration between primary and secondary healthcare providers.

Central to this phase is the implementation of a comprehensive Allergy Education program for primary care professionals, following the publication of a crucial position paper titled “Global Assessment of the Knowledge and Confidence in Managing Allergic Disorders Among Primary Care Pediatricians Across Europe.” This paper delivers an in-depth evaluation of the knowledge base and confidence levels among primary care pediatricians, highlighting critical gaps in their ability to diagnose and manage allergic disorders and underscoring the need for enhanced educational initiatives.

The position paper is the result of an extensive survey by the EAACI task force, exploring the self-reported educational needs of primary care pediatricians across Europe. It provides valuable insights into their preferences for educational formats and the foundational requirements for effective allergy-related service delivery in primary healthcare settings.

Building on these insights, the second phase of the project will roll out targeted educational activities designed to meet the specific needs of primary care professionals. The ultimate goal is to bridge the knowledge gap and enhance the ability of primary care providers to diagnose, manage, and refer patients with allergies more efficiently.

“This initiative is a testament to our dedication to improving allergy management at the primary care level,” said Martha Cabrera Sierra, board member of EAACI’s Allied Health & Primary Care Section. “This Task Force believes that the strategies to support PC in the diagnosis and management of allergic disease should be consolidated within a consensus policy document for stakeholders. This would be key to ensuring that a unified, collaborative and synergistic approach is applied to supporting the delivery of high-quality allergic disease care within PC.”

“Furthermore, in addition to the previous EAACI Task Force that I led in General Practitioners (GPs) with the same aim and with its recommendations, we wish to highlight future research opportunities as well as serve as a reference for what can be expected from GPs and Primary Care Pediatricians (PCPs) in PC settings across Healthcare Systems in Europe. We believe that, through teaching activities such as those already offered on EAACI’s recently launched e-learning platform, we can improve the quality of PC practice and strengthen the critical role of PCPs and GPs in the diagnosis and management of allergic diseases, who are often the first contact for patients and their families.”