title: Parents' knowledge of infective endocarditis in children with congenital heart disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The guidelines to prophylaxis of infectious endocarditis changed, but many congenital heart diseases continue to be considered as high risk for the development of the disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the knowledge of parents or guardians of children and adolescents with congenital heart disease seen at a referral center in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil on infective endocarditis and its prevention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study with 90 patients with congenital heart defects in regular outpatient treatment. The parents' knowledge was assessed using a specific questionnaire and other data were obtained through medical records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median age of patients was 5.6 years (3 months -14 years), being 57,7% males. The median follow-up time in service was 3.49 years (1.20-7.38). The years of formal schooling of the parents had a mean of 7.67 ± 3.25 years. According to the score previously established, the knowledge of the interviewed parents was considered satisfactory in 37.7%, regular in 33.3% and unsatisfying in 28,8%. There was significant correlation between the index of parents' knowledge and monitoring of children at service (r=0.584; P=0.796). There was no correlation between parents' education and knowledge of them (r=0.028; P=0.796).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The parents' knowledge about endocarditis and its prevention was inadequate, requiring greater attention to the orientations passed in consultations.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Cardiologia do Rio Grande do Sul/ Fundação Universitária de Cardiologia, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Haag
authors.forename: Sílvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Casonato
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Varela
authors.forename: Cora
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Firpo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents