Fever management in the children of mothers applying to the family medicine and pediatrics polyclinics of the faculty of medicine; evaluation of knowledge, attitudes and behaviors

Aim: Our study aimed to determine mothers' levels of knowledge about fever, their levels of anxiety regarding fever, and their practices when their children have a fever. The goal was for healthcare professionals, including doctors and nurses, to provide information to mothers considering these deficiencies, while taking into account their practices when dealing with fever in their children. Material and method: The research was conducted between October 2023 and January 2024. Our study was conducted specifically at YYU Faculty of Medicine. The location and participants of the study were as follows: It was conducted on 200 mothers who visited the Family Medicine and Pediatric Clinics of the hospital for any reason between October 2023 and January 2024. Results: In our research, 70% of the mothers measured their temperature at home, 91.5% noticed that their child had a fever, 75% had previously taken their child to the hospital due to fever, 77.5% had received information about fever before, and only 68% of them were informed about fever by the doctor. 11.5% stated that their child had had a seizure before. 49.5% stated that their child's fever increased; They stated that they understand when their child's body is warmer than normal, 50% of them measure the temperature under the armpit, 63% of them know how many degrees a high fever is, 30% of them know that the temperature re-measurement interval is 30 minutes, only 27% of them take off their child's clothes when the fever rises, Only 42% of the participants knew where the application was made, 67.5% did the warm application with warm water, only 15% knew the body temperature at which the antipyretic should be given, 57% of the participants gave the medication according to the prescription, more than 90% said how many hours apart the antipyretic was given. 94% of them stated that they consulted a doctor if the fever did not go down with the intervention, 85.5% stated that they used paracetamol and ibuprofen as antipyretics, 48% stated that the reason for giving antipyretic medication was to relieve fever and symptoms, and 76.5% stated that they took antipyretic medication with a doctor's prescription. Conclusion: In the study, their mothers' socioeconomic, fever anxiety and fever awareness scores were found to be at medium levels. The mean fever awareness score of mothers who were illiterate, living in villages, having low income, and being housewives was found to be low, but their anxiety levels about fire were high. The average fever awareness score of mothers who were university graduates was found to be high, and their fever anxiety levels were low. No relationship was found between maternal age and fever awareness and maternal anxiety. Those with low socioeconomic levels were found to have lower fever awareness levels and higher fever anxiety levels. A negative correlation was detected between mothers' fever anxiety levels and fever awareness. Key words: Fever, Fever management, Approach to fever of mothers