Nursan D Cinar1, Insaf Altun2, Sevin Altınkaynak3, Anne Walsh4. 1. Department of Child Health Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Sakarya University, Sakarya 54187, Turkey. Electronic address: ndede@sakarya.edu.tr. 2. Department of Fundamentals in Nursing, High School of Health, Kocaeli University, Umuttepe, Kocaeli 41380, Turkey. Electronic address: ialtun@kocaeli.edu.tr. 3. Department of Child Health Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Sakarya University, Sakarya 54187, Turkey. Electronic address: saltinkaynak@sakarya.edu.tr. 4. School of Nursing, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4059, Australia. Electronic address: am.walsh@qut.edu.au.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: To explore Turkish parents' practices in childhood fever management. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with 205 randomly selected Turkish parents of febrile children 6-months to 5-years from the paediatric hospital and two family health centres in Sakarya, Turkey in 2009. Data explored general fever management practices on the 8-item Parents' Fever Management Scale - Turkish version (5-point Liket scale; 1=never to 5=always) and socio-demographics. RESULTS: Parents wanted to know their child's temperature (61.5%), took temperatures (60%), slept in the same room (58.5%) and sought medical advice (53.7%). Non-evidence-based-practices included over-the-counter medications (42.4%); waking children during the night for fever reducing medication (33.2%). Evidence-based-practice ensured febrile children had plenty to drink (30.2%) and febrile children were checked during the night (59%). CONCLUSIONS: Parents' reports indicate high levels of concern about fever, overuse of over-the-counter medications and health services. Practices increase parents' burden of care, are disruptive of family life and lead to parental fatigue. The study confirms the appropriateness and applicability of the fever management instrument, a simple tool to incorporate into assessment of febrile children, in identifying Turkish parents' fever management practice.
BACKGROUND: To explore Turkish parents' practices in childhood fever management. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with 205 randomly selected Turkish parents of febrile children 6-months to 5-years from the paediatric hospital and two family health centres in Sakarya, Turkey in 2009. Data explored general fever management practices on the 8-item Parents' Fever Management Scale - Turkish version (5-point Liket scale; 1=never to 5=always) and socio-demographics. RESULTS: Parents wanted to know their child's temperature (61.5%), took temperatures (60%), slept in the same room (58.5%) and sought medical advice (53.7%). Non-evidence-based-practices included over-the-counter medications (42.4%); waking children during the night for fever reducing medication (33.2%). Evidence-based-practice ensured febrile children had plenty to drink (30.2%) and febrile children were checked during the night (59%). CONCLUSIONS: Parents' reports indicate high levels of concern about fever, overuse of over-the-counter medications and health services. Practices increase parents' burden of care, are disruptive of family life and lead to parental fatigue. The study confirms the appropriateness and applicability of the fever management instrument, a simple tool to incorporate into assessment of febrile children, in identifying Turkish parents' fever management practice.
Authors: Sa'ed H Zyoud; Samah W Al-Jabi; Masa M Nabulsi; Mais F Tubaila; Waleed M Sweileh; Rahmat Awang; Anne Walsh Journal: Matern Child Health J Date: 2015-08
Authors: Maria Kelly; Laura J Sahm; Frances Shiely; Ronan O'Sullivan; Eefje G de Bont; Aoife Mc Gillicuddy; Roisin Herlihy; Darren Dahly; Suzanne McCarthy Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2017-07-09 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Nathalie Bertille; Edward Purssell; Nils Hjelm; Natalya Bilenko; Elena Chiappini; Eefje G P M de Bont; Michael S Kramer; Philippe Lepage; Sebastiano A G Lava; Santiago Mintegi; Janice E Sullivan; Anne Walsh; Jérémie F Cohen; Martin Chalumeau Journal: Front Pediatr Date: 2018-10-05 Impact factor: 3.418