title: Turkish parents' management of childhood fever: a cross-sectional survey using the PFMS-TR.
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.
authors: Department of Child Health Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Sakarya University, Sakarya 54187, Turkey. Electronic address: ndede@sakarya.edu.tr.
authors: Nursan D
authors: ND
authors: Cinar
authors: Department of Fundamentals in Nursing, High School of Health, Kocaeli University, Umuttepe, Kocaeli 41380, Turkey. Electronic address: ialtun@kocaeli.edu.tr.
authors: Insaf
authors: I
authors: Altun
authors: Department of Child Health Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Sakarya University, Sakarya 54187, Turkey. Electronic address: saltinkaynak@sakarya.edu.tr.
authors: Sevin
authors: S
authors: Altınkaynak
authors: School of Nursing, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4059, Australia. Electronic address: am.walsh@qut.edu.au.
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Walsh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D058633:Antipyretics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D005334:Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D058633:Antipyretics
keywords: Child; Fever management; PFMS-TR; Parent; Parent Fever Management Scale (PFMS); Turkey