An analysis of caregivers’ preference regarding fever management in the emergency department

Abstract

Purpose To investigate caregivers’ preference regarding fever management in the emergency department. Methods Between July 2011 and June 2014, we surveyed the preference in fever management by caregivers of febrile children aged 7 years or younger who visited the emergency department. The questionnaire consisted of the characteristics of the children and their caregivers, usefulness of tepid massage, and the caregivers’ preference in fever management, in particular the combination of methods and the doses of antipyretics. Results Among a total of 161 children, 161 were enrolled in the study, with the mean age of 5.0 years. Of the caregivers, 64.6% were in their 30s and 50.9% were parents, and 70.2% and 24.2% reported that tepid massage was “very useful” and “a little useful,” respectively. The most preferred combination of methods was “tepid massage, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen (50.9%; P < 0.001).” “Tepid massage and ibuprofen” was preferred to “tepid massage and acetaminophen (24.2% vs 7.5%).” The most preferred dose of antipyretics was 1 mL/kg/day (divided into 3 doses; 60.2%; P = 0.012), followed by 1 mL/kg/day (divided into 3 doses) plus 2 mL/dose (29.1%). Conclusion Caregivers may recognize tepid massage as a useful fever management. The most preferred fever management was the combination of tepid massage, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen with a dose of 1 mL/kg/day.

Keywords

• acetaminophen
• antipyretics
• child
• emergency medicine
• fever
• ibuprofen