Gluten Free Research Project

[frec]

Questions:

1. sex:F

2. age:52

3. ethnic group: Caucasian

4. age at which you were diagnosed:46

5. How did you feel when you were diagnosed? chronic GERD--lost my voice-- and diarrhea most mornings--planned my life to be near bathrooms

6. Did you have health problems in childhood? allergies, asthma, bronchitis

7. How well do you maintain a gluten-free diet?

__ I absolutely never eat gluten

X I very rarely eat gluten that I know of (only accidentally from CC)

__ I try not to eat gluten but I sometimes cheat or don't know

__ I don't maintain a gluten-free diet as well as I should

__ I don't maintain a gluten-free diet at all

8. What are some of the main difficulties you face in maintaining a gluten-free diet?

X Price of gluten-free food

X Availability of gluten-free food

__ Taste of gluten-free food

__ Preparation of gluten-free food

X Public awareness of gluten intolerance/celiac disease

__ Knowing and understanding what foods you can and cannot eat

__ Reading and memorizing labeling on foods

X Dining out

__ Traveling

X Other: parties, potlucks

9. What type of symptoms do you face when gluten is ingested?

X nausea/vomiting

X diarrhoea

__ mouth ulcers

__ stomach pains

__ fatigue/tiredness

__ other(s) : fever

10. How comfortable are you eating in restaurants or public situations?

__ Very comfortable: I have no problem at all

__ Comfortable: It's not too much of a problem or embarassment for me

__ Slightly uncomfortable: I sometimes feel it a hassle or embarassing to ask about or identify gluten-free food

X Uncomfortable: I often feel it a hassle or embarassing to ask about or identify gluten-free food

__ Very uncomfortable: I avoid dining in public situations if at all possible

11. If you ever do feel uncomfortable, where and why exactly does this usually happen? Restaurants are loud so I often have to shout about my problems. The waiters are young so you have to educate them. Sometimes they are not helpful and you have to try nicely to get them to check ingredients. Sometimes they don't speak English. If I eat out with my brother he is embarrassed and has instructed me NOT to tell them about my specific food intolerances, just order.

12. How do you deal with situations in which you must dine out?

__ Don't eat (at potlucks and parties)

__ Only eat what you know or can assume is gluten free

__ Eat what they have out of politeness, even if it may contain gluten

__ Ask for a gluten free dish

__ Other : Eat a snack before or after. Then order bare chicken breast and lettuce.

13. In most restaurants, do you find that waiters/waitresses/managers/cooks are aware and accomodating to gluten free requests? They are usually kind but not always competent, and some restaurants have few options.

14. If a device were available that allowed you to test you food for gluten in public situations, would you use it? yes

15. What are some features it would need or you would like it to have? (for example: size, accuracy, speed, etc.) accurate, inconspicuous

16. What aspects might make you refrain from using it? inaccurate, conspicuous

17. About how much would you be willing to spend on a device like this? up to $100

18. Would you be willing to participate in later product testing and further interviewing as this project develops? yes