The effect of COVİD-19 obsession and fear in parents on their children's fever management

INTRODUCTİON AND AİM: Fever is one of the most common clinical manifestations of Covid-19 infection in children and one of the most common complaints in emergency departments. Fear of insecurity and uncertainty caused by Covid-19, major changes in lifestyle have evoked strong emotional responses in the general population that may cause psychological problems. The aim of this study was to adapt the Obsession with Covid-19 Scale (OCS) developed by Lee, S. A. (2020) in Korea to the Turkish culture, to conduct a validity and reliability study, and to investigate the effect of fear of Covid-19 obsession in the fever management of parents with children aged 1 month to 5 years. MATERİALS AND METHODS: The first phase of the study was methodological and cross-sectional; the second phase was descriptive and analytical. The sample group consisted of 450 participants in the first phase and 105 parents in the second phase. In the validity and reliability phase of the scale, data were collected using the Introductory Information Form and the Obsession with Covid-19 Scale (OCS). In the second phase of the study, the Introductory Information Form, Covid-19 Obsession Scale (OCS), Fear of Covid-19 Scale, and Parental Fire Management Scale (PFMS) were administered prior to training. RESULTS: The fit index values for the confirmatory factor analysis model of the developed scale were χ²/df: 2.475, RMSEA: 0.057, GFI: 0.994, CFI: 0.987, SRMR: 0.024, and Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.643 for the whole scale. In the second stage of the study, while there was difference between the variables in terms of obsession and fear scores (p> 0,05). There was a difference between the number of children in the family groups in terms of fever score (p< 0,05) and a statistically significant positive relationship between obsession and fear score (p< 0,05). CONCLUSİON: The scale was found to be a valid and reliable measurement tool suitable for the Turkish culture. A statistically significant positive correlation was observed between obsession and anxiety scores in parents during the Covid 19 pandemic. Keywords: 1 Month -5 Years Old Child, Fever, Covid-19, Fear, Obsession, Parent, Fever Management, Scale, Validity and Reliability