[Parents' attitudes towards childhood fever. A cross-sectional survey in the Lyon metropolitan area (202 cases)]. / L'attitude des parents face à la fièvre de leurs enfants. Une enquête transversale des résidents de l'agglomération lyonnaise (202 cas).
Presse Med
; 34(16 Pt 1): 1129-36, 2005 Sep 24.
Article
en Fr
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-16208258
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
The patient overload in pediatric healthcare facilities is caused in part by parents bringing their children in for consultations for fever. We conducted a survey in the Lyon metropolitan area to improve our understanding of parents' attitudes towards their children's fever.OBJECTIVE:
To assess the frequency and characteristics of healthcare utilization and evaluate parents' knowledge and attitudes before consulting.METHODS:
A random sample of families with at least one child under 6 years of age and living in the Lyon metropolitan area was surveyed by telephone, according to a closed questionnaire that was answered by the person usually responsible for the child's health.RESULTS:
202 families were questioned 58.9% defined fever as a temperature over 38 degrees C, and 82% used rectal thermometers to measure temperature. Among 144 parents of children with an episode of fever within the previous 12 months, 73% called a physician during the episode, 44% of them immediately. Working-class parents called more frequently (90%) than parents who were professionals or managers (74%). Most parents (94%) administered medication to the child several times before calling the physician. Paracetamol and ibuprofen were mentioned most often. 93% of fever episodes led to consultations.DISCUSSION:
Our results show that 59% of the sample defined fever as a temperature equal to 38 degrees C and that fever episodes lead commonly and quickly to physician visits, but that parents do use physical methods and drugs to reduce fever before calling a physician.
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Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Padres
/
Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud
/
Fiebre
Tipo de estudio:
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Qualitative_research
/
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Adult
/
Child
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
País/Región como asunto:
Europa
Idioma:
Fr
Revista:
Presse Med
Año:
2005
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Francia