Child Health Nursing Research

Korean Academy of Child Health Nursing (한국아동간호학회)
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Pediatric Nurses' Knowledge and Attitudes toward Childhood Fever

아동 발열에 대한 아동 간호사의 지식과 태도에 대한 연구

  • 정용선 (이화여자대학교 대학원) ;
  • 김진선 (조선대학교 의과대학 간호학과)
  • Published : 2009.04.30
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Abstract

Purpose: Fever is a common problem in children. Misconceptions about fever are exacerbated by variations in knowledge and practice of pediatric nurses. The purposes of this study were to identify the knowledge and attitude toward fever and its management and to identify the relationship between knowledge and attitude. Methods: A descriptive correlation study was conducted with 114 pediatric nurses in G city. Self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test or ANOVA and Pearson correlation analysis. Results: The mean percent of correct responses for physiology of fever, fever management and antipyretics was 51.3%. Knowledge of antipyretics was lower than knowledge of other items with 29.2% correct. Both positive and negative attitudes were discovered. Pediatric nurses' in this study reported negative attitudes toward beneficial effects of fever and positive attitudes toward use of antipyretics to prevent febrile convulsions and reduction of temperatures as low as $38.3^{\circ}C$. There was no statistically significant correlation between knowledge and attitude related to fever management. Conclusion: The findings suggest that improvements are needed in management practices of pediatric nurses. Educational interventions to increase knowledge of fever management by pediatric nurses and to strengthen positive attitudes about childhood fever are recommended.

Keywords

References

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