A Descriptive Study for Fever Management in Adult Febrile Patients

성인 발열환자의 발열관리 실태 조사

Purpose: The specific aims of this study were to define fever from the nurse's and physician's perspectives, describe fever management method and decision-making, and identify differences of definition of fever and fever managements between nurses and physicians. Methods: A cross-sectional survey using a 23-item questionnaire was used. A total of 305 nurses and physicians were surveyed, and 246 useful questionnaires were returned. Results: Body temperature of $36.5{\sim}38.3^{\circ}C$ were considered as adult febrile, and fever managements were initiated when the temperature was $37.0{\sim}38.0^{\circ}C$. More than half of the nurses and physicians, made a clinical decision regarding fever managements based on their own experiences. The most frequently used interventions in nursing practice were antipyretics, intravenous hydration, and external cooling. Nurses provided external cooling to lower body temperature than physicians (Z=-4.67, p<.001). Most participants reported that they needed a fever management protocol. Conclusion: Based on the information obtained, nurses respond with sensitivity to lower body temperature. We found significant differences among nurses, between nurses and physicians in approaching care of adult febrile patients.