Childhood fevers: developing an evidence-based anticipatory guidance tool for parents

Misconceptions about childhood fevers heighten parents' concerns leading to frequent use of health care services. Designing, piloting, and evaluating nursing interventions to demystify parents' phobia of fevers are imperative. An evidence-based fever anticipatory guidance tool was designed to assist parents by: dispelling misconceptions, teaching proper care of their febrile child and appropriate use of antipyretics, and providing a list of serious signs that warrant medical attention. Concepts of the Health Belief Model (HBM) are applied to parent behavior to promote a greater understanding of their actions in the face of childhood fever. Informing consumers with accurate and consistent information has direct implications for changing practice in the hospital and community.