title: Parental beliefs and practices regarding childhood fever in Turkish primary care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fever is a very common problem in pediatric age and is one of the most common reasons parents seek medical attention. We aimed to investigate beliefs, habits, and concerns of Turkish parents regarding their children's fever.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a cross-sectional survey which was conducted as face-to-face interviews by family physicians from April to June 2014 in family healthcare centers in nine different cities in Turkey. Parents with a child with fever aged between 0 and 14 years were interviewed. The participants were asked questions about sociodemographic data, the definition and measurement of fever, antipyretics, and other interventions used to reduce fever before presenting to the primary care center.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 205 parents participated in this study. Ninety-four parents (45.8%) measured fever with a thermometer prior to presentation. Only 36 parents (38%) used the thermometer correctly. Thirty-eight parents (18.5%) knew the correct temperature definition of fever for the measured site. A mercury-in-glass thermometer was the choice for most parents (78%) and preferred site for measurement was axillary region (85%). The fever was treated prior to arrival by 171 parents (83.4%). Paracetamol was the most frequently used antipyretic. Fifty-four parents (31.5%) failed to administer the correct antipyretic dose, and 73 parents (42.6%) failed to give the antipyretics at proper intervals. One hundred and fifty-three parents (67%) believed that if not treated fever could cause convulsions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that parents share important misconceptions about definition, treatment, and consequences of childhood fever and tend to treat fever before seeking medical care with a substantial rate of wrong doses and wrong intervals.
authors.affiliation: 1st Family Healthcare Center, Rize, Turkey.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yavuz
authors.affiliation: 5th Family Healthcare Center, Afyon, Turkey.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yayla
authors.affiliation: Serdivan Family Healthcare Center, Sakarya, Turkey.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Cebeci
authors.affiliation: Beykoz 5th Family Healthcare Center, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kırımlı
authors.affiliation: Sarıselviler Family Healthcare Center, Karaman, Turkey.
authors.forename: R Ş
authors.initials: RŞ
authors.lastname: Gümüştakım
authors.affiliation: Yenimahalle Family Healthcare Center, Ordu, Turkey.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Çakır
authors.affiliation: Bayrakli 4th Family Healthcare Center, İzmir, MD, Turkey.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Doğan
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058633:Antipyretics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001831:Body Temperature; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013821:Thermometers; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D058633:Antipyretics; D000082:Acetaminophen