Abstract
Prevalence of Stock Epinephrine in Iowa K-12 Public Schools
Journal of allergy and clinical immunology, Vol.155(2 Supplement), p.AB95
02/2025
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2024.12.301
Abstract
Rationale
Approximately 1 in 13 school-aged children have food allergies, 18% of whom have experienced an allergic reaction while at school. In 2015, Iowa K-12 schools were allowed to stock epinephrine on a voluntary basis. The impact of this law is unknown.
Methods
A REDCap survey was e-mailed to all 325 Iowa public school districts that included questions regarding the presence of a stock epinephrine policy, epinephrine availability, and barriers to implementation.
Results
Ninety-eight (30.15%) school districts responded. Seventy-one percent had policies on stock epinephrine and 61% stocked epinephrine. Of the 39% of districts without stock epinephrine, leading barriers included logistical issues (39%), cost (29%), and need for policy development (18%). Other barriers included staffing/training, lack of prescribers, emergency medical access, and liability concerns. Districts without stock epinephrine had higher percentages of students on free and reduced lunch programs (p-value 0.027) and higher poverty ratios (p-value 0.045). There was no significant difference in total enrollment, gender, race, ethnicity, geographic size, or population between districts that carry stock epinephrine and those that do not.
Conclusions
A significant proportion of responding districts did not have stock epinephrine. Leading barriers to implementation were logistical issues and cost. Districts without stock epinephrine had higher percentages of students who qualified for free and reduced lunch programs and higher poverty ratios, suggesting economic factors may influence the statewide distribution of stock epinephrine. Interventions are needed to make epinephrine more accessible in schools across the state.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Prevalence of Stock Epinephrine in Iowa K-12 Public Schools
- Creators
- Mackenzie Hines - University of IowaJayden Bowen - University of IowaElliot Stalter - University of IowaShalini Birari - University of IowaCassie Wassink - University of IowaM Bridget Zimmerman - University of IowaDiana Bayer - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Abstract
- Publication Details
- Journal of allergy and clinical immunology, Vol.155(2 Supplement), p.AB95
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jaci.2024.12.301
- ISSN
- 0091-6749
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 02/2025
- Academic Unit
- Biostatistics; Internal Medicine; Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics
- Record Identifier
- 9984791074802771
Metrics
2 Record Views