Page 84 - Petelin Ana. Ur. 2022. Zdravje otrok in mladostnikov / Health of children and adolescents. Proceedings. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem/University of Primorska Press
P. 84
avje otrok in mladostnikov | health of children and adolescents 84 would in the event of febrile seizures – immediately call for emergency medi-
cal assistance, which is particularly necessary if febrile seizures occur for the
first time (Neubauer, 2002). The results indicated that only 10 % of parents par-
ticipating in the study would turn their child on the side during a febrile sei-
zure, and this piece of information was not expected at all. In addition, we were
also surprised to learn that 14 % of parents participating in the survey would
administer oral medications to their child, in the child’s mouth, during a fe-
brile seizure. Such a conclusion suggests that 14 % of parents, taking part in the
study in question, have no idea whatsoever what in fact a febrile seizure looks
like and what happens during this phenomenon. Only 6 % of parents are not
afraid if they found themselves in front of febrile seizures as they firmly believe
they would take the right measures to help their child.
We also need to mention certain limitations as far as the research is con-
cerned – a small sample size of the parents participating in the study. Our find-
ings demonstrate that a sample of parents taking part in such a research should
be extended in order to be able to improve the quality of the research work and
to be able to gather more detailed findings. Another limitation is that we were
not personally present, by not being made available to them while the ques-
tionnaire was being completed, for the interpretation of possible ambiguities
when addressing the questionnaire. The fact is that there was a number of ques-
tions having multiple possible answers. However, it might have been better for
each question to have only one possible answer. Finally, this study could be im-
proved by comparing the answers we obtained with the answers given by oth-
er parents in several other institutions, perhaps also by making a comparison
among various Slovene places and municipalities.
Conclusions
Parents are faced with fever their child is struggling with throughout their en-
tire childhood. They often wonder what to do and how to handle the situation
when their children have fever. Because they are anxious and concerned, in
most cases parents turn to the child’s doctor (pediatrician), whom they trust
and rely on their guidance, so that they can raise questions to them regard-
ing fever, since it is they who should already have the way of knowing and hav-
ing all the answers to these questions. Parents should be aware of the fact that
there is a lot of information that is easily available on the Internet about dif-
ferent medical conditions, as well as about fever and febrile seizures. Howev-
er, much of the available information on fever is non-fact-checked and incom-
plete, which may stir confusion among parents. Such information should be
provided to parents by healthcare professionals, who are professionally trained
in health care education. Parents mostly trust healthcare professionals and are
quick to rely on their guidance.
The fact is that healthcare professionals are professionally trained and
thus qualified also in the field of health education. What is more, in addition to
the theoretical knowledge that the healthcare professionals hand over to par-
cal assistance, which is particularly necessary if febrile seizures occur for the
first time (Neubauer, 2002). The results indicated that only 10 % of parents par-
ticipating in the study would turn their child on the side during a febrile sei-
zure, and this piece of information was not expected at all. In addition, we were
also surprised to learn that 14 % of parents participating in the survey would
administer oral medications to their child, in the child’s mouth, during a fe-
brile seizure. Such a conclusion suggests that 14 % of parents, taking part in the
study in question, have no idea whatsoever what in fact a febrile seizure looks
like and what happens during this phenomenon. Only 6 % of parents are not
afraid if they found themselves in front of febrile seizures as they firmly believe
they would take the right measures to help their child.
We also need to mention certain limitations as far as the research is con-
cerned – a small sample size of the parents participating in the study. Our find-
ings demonstrate that a sample of parents taking part in such a research should
be extended in order to be able to improve the quality of the research work and
to be able to gather more detailed findings. Another limitation is that we were
not personally present, by not being made available to them while the ques-
tionnaire was being completed, for the interpretation of possible ambiguities
when addressing the questionnaire. The fact is that there was a number of ques-
tions having multiple possible answers. However, it might have been better for
each question to have only one possible answer. Finally, this study could be im-
proved by comparing the answers we obtained with the answers given by oth-
er parents in several other institutions, perhaps also by making a comparison
among various Slovene places and municipalities.
Conclusions
Parents are faced with fever their child is struggling with throughout their en-
tire childhood. They often wonder what to do and how to handle the situation
when their children have fever. Because they are anxious and concerned, in
most cases parents turn to the child’s doctor (pediatrician), whom they trust
and rely on their guidance, so that they can raise questions to them regard-
ing fever, since it is they who should already have the way of knowing and hav-
ing all the answers to these questions. Parents should be aware of the fact that
there is a lot of information that is easily available on the Internet about dif-
ferent medical conditions, as well as about fever and febrile seizures. Howev-
er, much of the available information on fever is non-fact-checked and incom-
plete, which may stir confusion among parents. Such information should be
provided to parents by healthcare professionals, who are professionally trained
in health care education. Parents mostly trust healthcare professionals and are
quick to rely on their guidance.
The fact is that healthcare professionals are professionally trained and
thus qualified also in the field of health education. What is more, in addition to
the theoretical knowledge that the healthcare professionals hand over to par-
