Emergency nurses’ opinions regarding paediatric fever: The effect of an evidence-based education program

Summary 

Introduction

The beliefs and opinions of individual nurses are key factors in clinical decisions. Emergency nurses’ clinical decisions related to paediatric fever establish emergency department norms, provide role-modelling for both peers and parents, underpin clinical management of febrile children, and influence fever management advice given to parents.

Aim

This study aimed to examine: (i) the opinions of emergency nurses regarding paediatric fever, and (ii) the effect of an evidence-based education program on the opinions of emergency nurses regarding paediatric fever.

Method

This study used a prospective pre-test/post-test design. The primary outcome measure was emergency nurses’ opinions measured using the ‘General Opinions about Fever Management in Children’ survey. The intervention for the study was two tutorials. Pre-test data was collected in June 2005 and post-test data was collected during August 2005.

Results

Thirty-one emergency nurses participated in the study. There were a number of positive changes in emergency nurses’ opinions regarding paediatric fever as a function of an evidence-based educational intervention. Major domains of change were relationship between temperature and illness severity/risk of harm, use and effects of antipyretic medication and febrile convulsions.

Conclusion

Emergency nurses are an important source of information for parents leaving the emergency department with a febrile child. Opinions can be a major influence in nurses’ clinical decisions and many fever management strategies used by health care professionals are reflective of individual beliefs rather than the best available evidence. The results of this study showed a number of positive changes in emergency nurses’ opinions regarding paediatric fever as a function of an evidence-based educational intervention.

Keywords: Emergency nursing, Pediatrics, Fever, Decision making