S Mason1, S Thorp, D Burke. 1. Department of Accident and Emergency Medicine, Northern General Hospital Trust, Sheffield, UK. suzanne.mason@lineone.net
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To identify patterns of prehospital administration of paracetamol to children who were perceived to be feverish by their carers. METHODS: A prospective cohort study of carers of children attending a paediatric accident and emergency (A&E) department. Carers of children completed a questionnaire to identify domestic patterns of paracetamol use. Data were collected on temperature of the child in the A&E department, administration of antipyretics in the A&E department, diagnosis, and disposal from the A&E department. RESULTS: Seventy five adults attending the A&E department consented to involvement. Sixty five of the children were feverish on arrival in the A&E department. Twenty one children (32.3%) had not received paracetamol before attending. There was a significant relation between knowledge of the antipyretic properties of paracetamol and administration (chi(2)=5.0, p<0.05). There was a significant correlation between fever and administration of paracetamol in the A&E department (chi(2)=23.7, p<0.01), however, 15 feverish patients (24.6%) were not treated. CONCLUSIONS: Most carers administer paracetamol appropriately in the prehospital setting. Administration correlates significantly with knowledge of its benefits. There is scope for education of carers and A&E department staff in the in the appropriate use of antipyretics such as paracetamol.
OBJECTIVES: To identify patterns of prehospital administration of paracetamol to children who were perceived to be feverish by their carers. METHODS: A prospective cohort study of carers of children attending a paediatric accident and emergency (A&E) department. Carers of children completed a questionnaire to identify domestic patterns of paracetamol use. Data were collected on temperature of the child in the A&E department, administration of antipyretics in the A&E department, diagnosis, and disposal from the A&E department. RESULTS: Seventy five adults attending the A&E department consented to involvement. Sixty five of the children were feverish on arrival in the A&E department. Twenty one children (32.3%) had not received paracetamol before attending. There was a significant relation between knowledge of the antipyretic properties of paracetamol and administration (chi(2)=5.0, p<0.05). There was a significant correlation between fever and administration of paracetamol in the A&E department (chi(2)=23.7, p<0.01), however, 15 feverish patients (24.6%) were not treated. CONCLUSIONS: Most carers administer paracetamol appropriately in the prehospital setting. Administration correlates significantly with knowledge of its benefits. There is scope for education of carers and A&E department staff in the in the appropriate use of antipyretics such as paracetamol.
Authors: Y A al-Eissa; F A al-Zamil; A M al-Sanie; A A al-Salloum; H M al-Tuwaijri; N M al-Abdali; S A al-Azzam Journal: Int J Clin Pract Date: 2000-04 Impact factor: 2.503