Experiences and practices of mothers with children 0–5 age group on fever management: A mixed methods study

Aims To determine fever management experiences and practices of mothers of children between 0 and 5 years of age. Background Fever is a common child health challenge known since ancient times. The implications of poor fever management include emotional trauma in parents and the convulsions that might cause neurological sequelae in rare cases. However, even today, mothers' emotional experiences, support needs and psychosocial difficulties during the fever management process at home are not well known. Design Convergent parallel mixed methods were used. Methods Questionnaire and Parent Fever Management Scale were applied to 170 mothers. 23 mothers were interviewed. ‘Number Cruncher Statistical System’ software and thematic analysis were used for data analysis. STROBE and COREQ checklist were utilized. Results The mothers participating in the study reported that they had difficulty controlling their child's fever at home and 87.6% reported that they felt negative emotions during the process. Negative emotions were anxiety (83.3%), fear (67.3%), panic (34.7%), loneliness (14.3%), incompetence (21.3%), anger (0.7%), helplessness and guilt (2.7%). Sixty percent of the mothers stated that they couldn't easily reach a nurse for counselling when their child had a fever at home. In the qualitative part, five themes were identified as ‘meaning attributed to fever, psychosocial dimension of fever, fever management, difficulties in fever management, and fever within the scope of health service delivery’. Conclusion Mothers still have difficulties in fever management at home. Nurses can support them with fever management programs either online or via telephone. Relevance to Clinical Practice Our study shows that fever in children causes emotional problems as well as the burden of care among mothers. Mothers also need psychosocial and physical support during home-based management of fever. Patient/Public Contribution Opinions were obtained from mothers about the qualitative findings and questions that will be included in the questionnaire and interviews.