[SURVEY ON THE AWARENESS OF TEACHERS REGARDING BULLYING OF STUDENTS WITH FOOD ALLERGIES].

PURPOSE: To clarify Japanese school staff's perceptions of bullying among students with food allergies. METHODS: School staff were recruited during an online training course on allergy management held in 2024, and a web-based questionnaire survey was conducted. Survey items included respondent characteristics, the perceived proportion of students who had ever experienced bullying, the perceived bullying risk for students with food allergies, and experience with bullying cases related to food allergy. RESULTS: Responses from 198 school staff members (response rate 25%) were analyzed. Overall, 54% believed that students with food allergies are at higher risk of being bullied. Ten percent had experienced bullying targeting students with food allergies, and some reported incidents in which allergens were used as a means of bullying. As an effective measure to reduce this risk, 93% endorsed education about food allergies provided by teachers to all students. CONCLUSION: Many school staff members recognized the bullying risk faced by students with food allergies, and actual cases of potentially life-threatening bullying using allergens were reported. Sharing awareness of these dangers and implementing continuous efforts for prevention and early detection are essential.