• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.324-333
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• 2010

Purpose: Fever is a common symptom of illness in children that is often misunderstood and inappropriately managed by parents. The purposes of this study were to investigate perception, knowledge of childhood fever and fever management and self-efficacy in fever management by parents and to identify the relationship between knowledge of childhood fever and fever management, and self-efficacy in management of fever. Methods: A descriptive correlation study was used with 101 parents of children ages 3 months to 5 yr who were seen in a pediatric outpatient clinic. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, t-test or ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficients were used for data analysis. Results: Many parents reported a high level of fear about fever and its possible complications. Most parents used over-the-counter medications to reduce fever even when their children had mild to moderate fever. The mean correct percent on the knowledge scale was 51.0%. Most parents did not recognize the benefits of fever. There were statistically significant positive correlations between knowledge of fever and fever management and self-efficacy in management of fever. Conclusion: The results indicate a need to develop and evaluate educational programs that will provide parent education on fever and fever management.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.289-298
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• 2016

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to investigate daycare teachers' knowledge, anxiety and management of childhood fever and to identify factors affecting their management of childhood fever. Methods: A descriptive correlation study was conducted. Participants were 109 daycare center teachers from G metropolitan city. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Results: The mean percent of correct answers for knowledge about childhood fever was 42.9%. Levels of anxiety related to children's fever were high among day care teachers in this study. Many daycare center teachers used management practices which were not recommended for childhood fever management. There was a statistically significant difference in participants' knowledge about childhood fever by marital status and having a child. Moreover, there were statistically significant positive correlation between daycare center teachers' knowledge and management and negative correlation between daycare center teachers' anxiety and management of childhood fever. Knowledge and anxiety related to childhood fever accounted for 15.2% of variance for fever management. Conclusion: Results show that day care teachers' knowledge and anxiety related to fever are important factors in predicting their fever management. Development and evaluation of educational interventions to improve daycare teachers' childhood fever management are recommended.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.190-200
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• 2020

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify correlations between how much fever management information mothers obtained from the internet and their actual knowledge and practices of fever management. Methods: This was a descriptive survey of 172 mothers with children aged between 0 and 3 attending five daycare centers located in the city of Daegu. Descriptive statistics, the independent t-test or one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation coefficients were used for data analysis. Results: In total, 75% of the mothers had searched the internet for information on fever management. The overwhelming majority (92.2%) used information from the internet to help manage fever in their children. Positive correlations were found between acquiring fever management information from the internet and fever management practices (r=.18, p=.038), and between mother's knowledge and practices of fever management (r=.27, p<.001). Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, to improve fever management practices, it is necessary to increase mothers' knowledge. Therefore, resources should be developed to augment mothers' knowledge of fever management through the internet.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.30-40
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• 2010

Purpose: The purposes of this review were to identify whether available evidence supports the nursing interventions that are commonly used to reduce fever in children and to introduce research findings into practice. Methods: Journal databases and clinical guidelines from 1990 to 2009 were searched. The search terms were fever, febrile convulsion, fever management, fever phobia, child, antipyretics, temperature, external cooling, tepid sponge bath, and physical treatment. Results: Evidence suggests that uncomplicated fever is relatively harmless, but it is an important immunological defense. Antipyretics should not routinely be used with the sole aim of reducing body temperature in children with fever who are otherwise well. Currently a lack of evidence supports the practice of alternating acetaminophen and ibuprofen, and the routine use of tepid sponge bath. Conclusion: Currently, fever management in children does not reflect research evidence. Pediatric nurses can play an important role by encouraging clinical research in this area and also by enhancing research utilization in their practice. Moreover, pediatric nurses can educate parents about evidence-based fever management. Evidence-based educational interventions for pediatric nurses need to be developed and evaluated to improve the quality of nursing care in the management of childhood fever.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.171-181
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• 2009

Purpose: Fever is a common problem in children. Misconceptions about fever are exacerbated by variations in knowledge and practice of pediatric nurses. The purposes of this study were to identify the knowledge and attitude toward fever and its management and to identify the relationship between knowledge and attitude. Methods: A descriptive correlation study was conducted with 114 pediatric nurses in G city. Self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test or ANOVA and Pearson correlation analysis. Results: The mean percent of correct responses for physiology of fever, fever management and antipyretics was 51.3%. Knowledge of antipyretics was lower than knowledge of other items with 29.2% correct. Both positive and negative attitudes were discovered. Pediatric nurses' in this study reported negative attitudes toward beneficial effects of fever and positive attitudes toward use of antipyretics to prevent febrile convulsions and reduction of temperatures as low as $38.3^{\circ}C$. There was no statistically significant correlation between knowledge and attitude related to fever management. Conclusion: The findings suggest that improvements are needed in management practices of pediatric nurses. Educational interventions to increase knowledge of fever management by pediatric nurses and to strengthen positive attitudes about childhood fever are recommended.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.126-136
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• 2016

Purpose: The purposes of this review were to address misconceptions of childhood fever and fever management practice among parents and health care providers, and to identify the scientific evidences against such misconceptions and practices. Methods: Journal databases and clinical guidelines from 2000 to 2015 were searched. The search terms were fever, fever management, misconception, myth, fiction, fact, fever phobia, child, antipyretics, tepid bath, alternating use/combined use of antipyretics, and physical cooling method. Results: There are significant gaps between current concepts and practices, and the scientific evidence. Misconceptions and unrealistic concerns about childhood fever still exist among parents and even health care providers, worldwide. The evidences suggest that antipyretics should be given carefully with the aim of relieving discomfort or pain rather than decreasing the temperature itself. Alternating use of antipyretics should be discouraged due to the risk of confusion and error. Antipyretics do not prevent febrile convulsions. Moreover, the scientific evidence does not support tepid sponge massage. Conclusion: Evidence-based childhood fever management interventions should be targeted toward parents and health care providers. By adopting an evidence-based approach to nursing interventions, pediatric nurses can ensure children receive appropriate and safe fever management.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.127-136
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• 2017

Purpose: This study was done to identify the level and correlation of knowledge and practice of fever management at home and provide data for the development of an intervention program to improve the fever management ability of mothers of preschool age children. Methods: Participants were 112 mothers with children between 1 and 6 years of age and attending one of three daycare centers located in J city. The participants had a history of using medication and tepid massage. Data were collected during April, 2016. Results: The mean scores were 27.55 (correct answer rate 70.64%) of 39 for knowledge, and 75.93 of 92 for fever management practice. There were significant differences in scores for knowledge according to the number of children and number of visits to doctors for treatment of a fever. There were no differences in scores for practice. There was a positive correlation between knowledge and practice. Conclusion: Results indicate that mothers' knowledge and practice of childhood fever management were insufficient to provide accurate management of childhood fevers. Therefore, to improve the mothers' ability to provide appropriate fever management, educational strategies that focus on increasing knowledge need to be developed.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.12
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• pp.702-713
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of internet information about childhood fever and fever management. A total of 48 web sites with information about childhood fever and fever management in Korea were analyzed. Each web site was evaluated in terms of degree of the latest, creator, source, disclosure, and the accuracy of information. Accuracy of information was checked by comparison with published childhood fever management guidelines and current best evidences. The quality of internet information about fever and fever management was generally poor and not consistent. Moreover, it did not reflected current scientific evidences. It is important that parents should aware of these deficiencies and internet information can not substitute for consultation with health care professionals. Moreover, there was an urgent need to improve evidence-based fever management information on the internet.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.96-104
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• 2013

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.

• Korean Parent-Child Health Journal
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.105-114
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify parent's knowledge and cope with their child's fever. Confirmed data provide source and it based on parent's education program and nursing intervention. Method: The research design was a descriptive study by questionnaire. Data were collected from July, 16, 2007 to August, 6, 2007. A total 165 parents who visited the children's hospital in Gwangju. Data were analysed using the SPSS WIN 12.0 program. Results: The results of this study were as follows: 1. Fever was major cause which to visit hospital among children(50.3%). 2. Parents main concerned by child fever were convulsion(52.7%) and brain injury(46.7%). 3. When cause fever most parents checking interval are 30 minutes (38.8%), the most fever management was used antipyretics with tepid water massage(59.4%). 4. Antipyretics used interval was 4hours(56.4%). 5. When visit to hospital by fever, most treatment was antipyretics. 6. The method to get fever information, first by doctor(68.5%), second by family-relative(41.8%) and last by nurse(22.4%). Conclusion: It is necessary to provide information about management of fever. Development and distribution for effective education program for child fever at home are also necessary. Therefore we suggest the education program on the internet.