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Parents' knowledge of infective endocarditis in children with congenital heart disease
Fabiana Haag1, Sílvia Casonato, Fernanda Varela
1Instituto de Cardiologia do Rio Grande do Sul/ Fundação Universitária de Cardiologia, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.
Insights
Parents of children with congenital heart defects have inadequate knowledge of infectious endocarditis prevention. Improved education during consultations is crucial for high-risk patients to prevent this serious infection.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Congenital heart diseases (CHDs) place children at high risk for infectious endocarditis (IE).
- Evolving guidelines for IE prophylaxis necessitate updated parental understanding.
- Parental knowledge is key to implementing preventive measures for high-risk pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess parental knowledge of IE and its prevention in children with CHDs.
- To identify gaps in understanding among caregivers at a Brazilian referral center.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 90 pediatric patients with CHDs.
- Parental knowledge assessed via a specific questionnaire.
- Data supplemented by medical record review.
Main Results:
- Parental knowledge regarding IE and prevention was unsatisfactory in 28.8% and regular in 33.3%.
- No significant correlation found between parental education level and knowledge index.
- A significant correlation existed between parental knowledge and patient monitoring (r=0.584).
Conclusions:
- Parental knowledge about infectious endocarditis and prevention strategies is inadequate.
- Enhanced patient education during consultations is essential for children with CHDs.
- Targeted educational interventions are needed to improve IE prevention in this vulnerable group.
Introduction:
The guidelines to prophylaxis of infectious endocarditis changed, but many congenital heart diseases continue to be considered as high risk for the development of the disease.
Objective:
To evaluate the knowledge of parents or guardians of children and adolescents with congenital heart disease seen at a referral center in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil on infective endocarditis and its prevention.
Methods:
Cross-sectional study with 90 patients with congenital heart defects in regular outpatient treatment. The parents' knowledge was assessed using a specific questionnaire and other data were obtained through medical records.
Results:
The median age of patients was 5.6 years (3 months -14 years), being 57,7% males. The median follow-up time in service was 3.49 years (1.20-7.38). The years of formal schooling of the parents had a mean of 7.67 ± 3.25 years. According to the score previously established, the knowledge of the interviewed parents was considered satisfactory in 37.7%, regular in 33.3% and unsatisfying in 28,8%. There was significant correlation between the index of parents' knowledge and monitoring of children at service (r=0.584; P=0.796). There was no correlation between parents' education and knowledge of them (r=0.028; P=0.796).
Conclusion:
The parents' knowledge about endocarditis and its prevention was inadequate, requiring greater attention to the orientations passed in consultations.
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