ERIC Number: EJ1188875
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014
Pages: 31
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-2155-5834
EISSN: N/A
Parents' Knowledge, Attitudes and Beliefs of Childhood Fever Management in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study
Athamneh, Liqa; El-Mughrabi, Marwa; Athamneh, Mohmmad; Essien, E. James; Abughosh, Susan
Journal of Applied Research on Children, v5 n1 Article 8 2014
Background: Studies have demonstrated that some parents have limited knowledge and several false beliefs regarding fever, its management and role in illness. Objective: The aims of this study were to investigate parents' knowledge, attitudes and beliefs regarding childhood fever management in Jordan in comparison to current National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and Italian fever management guidelines. Methods: An observational, survey-based cross-sectional study design was carried out with a convenience sample of 419 Jordanian adult parents in Irbid governorate area, Jordan. The survey consisted of four major categories with 32 'yes/no' and multiple-choice questions. Descriptive statistics were presented, and chi-square test/ Fisher exact test and a t-test were performed to compare the demographics in this study to the frequencies of oral vs. rectal drug administration and beliefs about the usefulness of alternating drugs. SAS 9.3 was used to conduct all the statistical analysis at a significance level of 0.05. Results: Our results indicated that a high proportion of parents use rectal route for temperature measurement (37%) and medication administration (50%). Approximately half the parents administer treatment when temperature is above 38°C (48%)and only 10% based their calculation of dose on weight. Approximately half the parents reported deciding the right antipyretic medication (59%) and the right dose (48%) to administer to their un-well child using previous advice they have had from their pediatrician. The chi-square test showed no significant differences with any of the demographics with beliefs regarding the usefulness of alternating drugs, while a significant association between the site used in administering the drugs and sex (p=0.003), age category (p=0.03) and number of kids (p=0.029) were documented. Conclusion: Our results indicate that parents often misuse the antipyretics medications, incorrectly manage their child's fever, follow inappropriate practices to reduce fever, and generally have poor knowledge of basic information regarding fever. As the data suggest that a high proportion of parents use the rectal route for temperature measurement and medication administration, educational programs may be necessary to ensure the process of taking rectal temperature readings is safe and sanitary, especially among female parents, younger age groups and those with 3 or less kids. Findings from this study underscore the need to develop and evaluate programs that educate parents and provide them with the knowledge base required to better manage their children's fevers.
Descriptors: Knowledge Level, Parents, Child Health, Parent Attitudes, Drug Therapy, Gender Differences, Foreign Countries, Individual Characteristics, Physiology
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Jordan
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A