Investigation on the level of knowledge and approach of pediatric nurses about fever management influencing factors

IXSUMMARYInvestigation on the level of knowledge and approach of pediatric nursesabout fever and fever management influencing factorsFever is one of the most common symptoms of childhood illnesses. It usuallysignifies the defense reaction of the body to the illness, requiring no medicaltreatment. Furthermore, there are strong evidence justifying the benefits of moderatefever. However, contrary to this approach, treatments reflecting that fever is harmfulfor all patients; are frequently applied in clinical practice. Reducing the temperatureis one of the mistakes done quite often.This study aimed to find out the attitudes of the nurses in the services ofpediatrics and pediatric illnesses towards fever and children with fever, in thehospitals in Trabzon and Afyon, to identify the methods they use to reduce thetemperature and what affects the choice of the methods to be used, and to define theirlevel of required assistance for training in this subject.A questionnaire of 33 questions was used for the study. The questionnairewas applied to 182 volunteered nurses.The statistical analysis of data was done by using Ki-square and Fisher kisquare tests.The results of the study showed that 10,7 % of the nurses consider > 39celcius to be high for fever.The first three methods used by the nurses to reduce the temperature werestated as, taking off the clothes of the patient, applying warm water, and givingantipyretics, respectively.It was found out that 77,6 % of the nurses volunteered in the study had thefear of fever, and also that 87,7% of them stated the temperature required forantipyretics application as < 39 Celsius. They gave the reason for using antipyreticsis the risk of having convulsive attacks due to fever.It was found out that the nurses don?t have information on fever and itstreatment. It was realized that education level, marital status and, having childrenwas reflected on the knowledge and behaviour notably and that the difference wasstatistically meaningful (p< 0,05).XThe results revealed that nurses need to be trained to improve their attitudestowards the patients with fever and develop their positive behaviour.Key Words: Fever, Fever management, Knowledge, Pediatrics, Nursing..