Parental Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Pediatric Fever: A Comparative Study Between Healthcare and Non-healthcare Parents

Fever is a leading cause of pediatric emergency visits and, despite often being self-limiting, remains a source of anxiety and frequent mismanagement. Parents’ knowledge and attitudes significantly influence fever management and healthcare-seeking behaviors. This study aimed to evaluate and compare fever-related knowledge and attitudes between healthcare-professional parents and non-professional parents to inform targeted educational interventions. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Departments of Pediatric Outpatient and Emergency, Maltepe University Faculty of Medicine and enrolled 400 parents (200 healthcare-professionals, 200 non-professionals). A 52-item structured questionnaire, administered through face-to-face interviews, assessed socio-demographic characteristics, fever management knowledge, and attitudes toward febrile seizures (FS). Among the survey participants, 23% were nurses, 18% were physicians, 5% were technicians, 3% were other healthcare staff, and 1% were emergency medical technicians. Information sources differed significantly between groups, with groups varying in their reliance on medical personnel, the internet, books, relatives, and personal experience. Both groups most commonly used axillary temperature measurements. Thermometer ownership was similar, but definitions of normal temperature and fever thresholds differed significantly. Knowledge gaps and fever-related anxiety were evident in both healthcare and non-healthcare parents, contributing to inappropriate management practices. Tailored educational strategies addressing misconceptions about fever and FSs are essential to promote evidence-based pediatric care and improve child health outcomes.