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Table 1 The items in the four domains in the FAQLQ-AF questionnaire

From: Health-related quality of life, assessed with a disease-specific questionnaire, in Swedish adults suffering from well-diagnosed food allergy to staple foods

Allergen Avoidance and Dietary Restrictions (AADR)

How troublesome do you find it, because of your food allergy, that you …

… must always be alert as to what you are eating?

… are able to eat fewer products?

… are limited as to the products you can buy?

… must read labels?

… must refuse many things during social activities?

… are less able to spontaneously accept an invitation to stay for a meal?

… are less able to taste or try various products when eating out?

… can eat out less?

… must personally check whether you can eat something

when eating out?

… hesitate eating a product when you have doubts about it?

How troublesome is it, because of your food allergy, …

… that you must explain to those around you that you have a food allergy?

Emotional Impact (EI)

How troublesome do you find it, because of your food allergy, that you …

… have the feeling that you have less control of what you eat when eating out?

How frightened are you because of your food allergy …

… of an allergic reaction?

… of accidentally eating something wrong?

… of an allergic reaction when eating out despite the fact that your dietary restrictions have been discussed beforehand?

Answer the following questions:

To what degree do you feel you are being a nuisance because you have a food allergy when eating out?

How discouraged do you feel during an allergic reaction?

How apprehensive are you about eating something you have never eaten before?

Risk of Accidental Exposure (RAE)

How troublesome do you find it, because of your food allergy, that you …

… sometimes frustrate people when they are making an effort to accommodate your food allergy?

How troublesome is it, because of your food allergy, …

… that the ingredients of a product change?

… that labels are incomplete?

… that the lettering on labels is too small?

… that the label states: “May contain (traces of)….”?

… that ingredients are different in other countries (for example during vacation)?

… that people underestimate your problems caused by food allergy?

… for your host or hostess should you have an allergic reaction?

Food Allergy related Health (FAH)

How troublesome is it, because of your food allergy, …

… that it is unclear to which foods you are allergic?

How worried are you because of your food allergy …

… about your health?

… that the allergic reactions to foods will become increasingly severe?