Parental knowledge, concerns, and management of childhood fever in Taiwan.
BACKGROUND
Childhood fever is a commonly treated condition in medical settings. Many studies around the world have reported on the phenomenon of parental fever phobia. Studies of parental knowledge regarding childhood fever are lacking in Taiwan.


OBJECTIVE
This study explores parental knowledge, concerns, and management of childhood fever and their correlates in Taiwan.


METHODS
This study used a cross-sectional survey and self-administered questionnaire. Six hundred forty-nine parents were recruited as participants from pediatric clinics and kindergartens in southern Taiwan.


RESULTS
Nearly half (47.2%) of participants incompletely understood the healthcare information about childhood fever provided by physicians and nurses. Furthermore, 41.6% of parents were dissatisfied with the information provided. The median score of parental knowledge was 10 (interquartile range [IQR] = [8, 12] out of a maximum of 23). Parent gender, religion, education level, and occupation were independent predictors of knowledge scores. Parents who were never or sometimes concerned about childhood fever had significantly higher knowledge scores than those who were always concerned about childhood fever (median knowledge score: 11, IQR = [9, 13] vs. 10, IQR = [8, 11]). Most parents followed Western medical advice to manage childhood fever; however, 31.1% of parents combined this with traditional folk treatments. Levels of concern among parents included 86.6% of parents who frequently or always worried about their children's fever. Fever-induced anxiety was reported by 68.8% of the parents.


CONCLUSIONS
Participants' lack of fever-related knowledge was because, in part, of either their not understanding or their dissatisfaction with provided information. The higher level of concern compared with other countries and studies indicates that parents in Taiwan need appropriate information about fever management to alleviate their concerns and guide them in caring for their febrile children.
1MSN, RN, Lecturer, Department of Nursing, Tajen University, and Doctoral Candidate, Institute of Allied Health Sciences, National Cheng Kung University 2MPH, MD, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, National Cheng Kung University and Hospital 3PhD, RN, Professor, Department of Nursing/Institute of Allied Health Sciences, National Cheng Kung University.
Li-Chuan
LC
Chang
Ching-Chuan
CC
Liu
Mei-Chih
MC
Huang
D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000628:therapy*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan