Effects of information on parental knowledge of febrile convulsions

The purpose of this study was to study the effects of giving information to parents with febrile convulsive children. All parents of children with febrile convulsions who are seen at Worcester Royal Infirmary are given information. Fifty parents of children who had had a first febrile convulsion during May 1996 to December 1996 were interviewed by telephone from July to September 1997. The same questions were asked of 50 parents of children who came to a community health clinic and who had not had febrile convulsions. The design used open questions and covered medical history, general child health knowledge and knowledge of febrile convulsion. The answers were compared using a chi-squared test (significance level P < 0.05). Possible confounding factors were tested by a correlation test. No difference was found between the two groups in family structure, housing, and general child health knowledge. Information about febrile convulsions was retained by informed parents. Both groups thought the given information was useful and should be written in the child health record book. Information about febrile convulsions was remembered by parents.