title: Expectant parents' understanding of the implications and management of fever in the neonate.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We estimated the extent to which Canadian expectant parents would seek medical care in a febrile neonate (age 30 days or less). We also evaluated expectant parents' knowledge of signs and symptoms of fever in a neonate, and explored the actions Canadian expectant parents would take to optimize the health of their child.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional survey of a sample of expectant parents from a large urban center in Canada. We recruited participants from waiting rooms in an obstetrical ultrasound clinic located in an urban tertiary care hospital in Montreal, Canada. We asked participants nine questions about fever in neonates including if, and how, they would seek care for their neonate if they suspected he/she were febrile.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 355 respondents, (response rate 87%) we found that 75% of parents reported that they would take their febrile neonate for immediate medical assessment, with nearly one fifth of the sample reporting that they would not seek medical care. We found no significant associations between the choice to seek medical care and expectant parents socio-demographic characteristics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite universal access to high quality health care in Canada, our study highlights concerning gaps in the knowledge of the care of the febrile infant in one fifth of expectant parents. Physicians and health providers should strive to provide early education to expectant parents about how to recognize signs of fever in the neonate and how best to seek medical care. This may improve neonatal health outcomes in Canada.
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada; Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Montreal Children's Hospital of the McGill University Hospital Centre, Montreal, Canada.
authors: Sara R
authors: SR
authors: Ahronheim
authors: Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Montreal Children's Hospital of the McGill University Hospital Centre, Montreal, Canada.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: McGillivray
authors: Department of Psychiatry, St Paul's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors: Skye
authors: S
authors: Barbic
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, St Paul's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Barbic
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors: Stephanie
authors: S
authors: Klam
authors: McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Brisebois
authors: McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors: Kristen
authors: K
authors: Lambrinakos-Raymond
authors: Division of Emergency Medicine, Montreal General Hospital, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Canada.
authors: Joe
authors: J
authors: Nemeth
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000628:therapy; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult