Knowledge, attitude, concern and practices about febrile seizure: A preliminary study in parents whose children have never experienced seizure
Keywords:
febrile seizure, parental knowledge, attitude, concern, practice on febrile seizureAbstract
Background: Febrile seizure (FS) is the most common type of seizure in children aged 6 to 60 months. This condition is not harmful and does not affect future learning abilities, intelligence, or behavior. A review of literatures shows that most parents still lack accurate knowledge, leading to unnecessary concerns, inappropriate first aid practices, and negative perceptions about this condition.
Objectives: To preliminary design a set of questionnaires aimed at assessing Thai parents' knowledge, attitudes, concerns, and practices related to febrile seizures, specifically targeting those whose children have never experienced a seizure.
Method: We designed a set of questionnaires based on a literature review regarding FS. Three pediatric neurologists reviewed the questionnaire for accuracy and clarity. After two rounds of evaluation, the Index of Item Objective Congruence (IOC) exceeded 0.5. A pilot study was conducted with 20 parents (whose children have never experienced seizure) of children aged 6 to 60 months who completed the questionnaire. Descriptive analyses were performed on the collected data.
Results: The study included 20 parents. A significant majority lacked knowledge about the overall prognosis of FS; 95% believed seizures would always recur with fever, while 75% viewed FS as a life-threatening condition. Additionally, 60% thought FS could negatively impact neurodevelopment. Most parents (95%) believed blood tests were necessary for all cases, and 70% thought a hospital visit was required in every instance. Furthermore, 65% indicated they would place objects in the child’s mouth during a seizure. Overall, parents exhibited high levels of concern and misperceptions about FS.
Conclusion: More than half of Thai parents lack knowledge and appropriate first aid practices regarding febrile seizures. Many holds negative perceptions and excessive concerns about FS despite its benign nature.
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