Background
Methods
Aims, design, recruitment and sampling
Data collection
Data analysis
Results
Parental characteristics | N | |
---|---|---|
Gender | Male | 6 |
Female | 15 | |
Age | 20–30 | 3 |
31–40 | 11 | |
> 40 | 3 | |
White British Ethnicity | Yes | 15 |
No | 6 | |
Case characteristics | ||
Age of child | ≤12 months | 9 |
12-24 months | 7 | |
> 24 months to 5 years 6 months | 5 | |
History of fever this episode | Yes | 5 |
No | 16 | |
Total no. of children in household | 1 | 12 |
2 | 9 |
Interview ID | Parental role | Age bracket (years) | Number of children | White British? | History of fever this episode |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
i1 | Father | – | 2 | Yes | No |
i2 | Mother | 20–30 | 1 | Yes | Yes |
i3 | Father | – | 1 | Yes | No |
i4 | Mother | 31–40 | 2 | Yes | No |
i5 | Mother | 20–30 | 2 | Yes | No |
i6 | Mother | 31–40 | 1 | Yes | No |
i7 | Mother | 31–40 | 2 | Yes | No |
i8 | Mother | 31–40 | 2 | Yes | No |
i9 | Mother | – | 1 | No | No |
i10 | Father | – | 1 | Yes | Yes |
i11 | Mother | 31–40 | 1 | Yes | No |
i12 | Mother | 31–40 | 2 | No | Yes |
i13 | Mother | > 40 | 1 | No | No |
i14 | Father | 31–40 | 2 | No | Yes |
i15 | Mother | 31–40 | 1 | Yes | No |
i16 | Mother | 31–40 | 2 | No | No |
i17 | Mother | 31–40 | 1 | Yes | No |
i18 | Mother | 31–40 | 1 | Yes | No |
i19 | Mother | > 40 | 1 | Yes | No |
i20 | Father | 20–30 | 1 | No | Yes |
i21 | Father | > 40 | 1 | Yes | No |
Themes | Subthemes | |
---|---|---|
The importance of temperature measurement to parents | Diagnosis of (high) fever Indication for action Situation-specific value and cost | |
Parents’ use and interpretation of results | Accuracy of readings Interpretation of numerical values | Definition of accuracy Anxiety about usage Indication for action Monitoring response to treatment Thresholds for a “bad” / high fever |
Sources of advice | Family and social networks Books and the internet Medical professionals and resources | Advice about fever Advice about thermometers and temperature measurement |
Home use patterns and parental experience | Parental factors influencing use of thermometers Motivation for healthcare consultations |
The importance of temperature measurement to parents
Diagnosis of (high) fever
“They take the temperature..to know if it was something viral or a bacteria” (i9).
“I know as a first time mum if they feel a bit hot you think...I need to get the thermometer out and check the temperature…because obviously a very high temperature can be very dangerous so the earlier you catch it the better”. (i2).
Indication for action
“I think going over 40 was a key one. So 39.08 I would probably try and manage that at home, hitting over 40 I would be going to the emergency room” (i12).
“The temperature had been a little over 40.. Ibuprofen brought it down to 37 or 38..but we still decided to make an appointment at the doctor just to make sure that it wasn’t anything serious..I suppose what I was expecting from the doctor was probably confirmation it wasn’t anything serious and reassurance that what we were doing was okay” (i10).
Situation-specific value and cost
“If my children were both well I would probably.. just take the £10 one, but then when your child is very sick.. I think that I would be more likely to be willing to part with a lot more money in..an emergency situation and will go out specifically to buy one” (i12).
Parents’ use and interpretation of the results
Accuracy of readings
“If I was to take a reading in one ear and then in the other ear..if that is showing quite a consistent reading...I think I would feel like it was working correctly” (i7).
“if they’re more than a degree apart then I start wondering and then I’ll do it again” (i10).“they weren’t too far off each other so I was happy with the results” (i4).
“I’m never sure if I’ve put it far enough into her ear or not far enough in…I’m not confident that I wouldn’t miss something by not being able to use it perfectly” (i17).
“I have had some times when..I don’t even think it’s working correctly or I don’t think it’s that accurate so it is always best to stop to get it checked by the doctor because they can obviously do it correctly” (i12).
Interpretation of numerical values
“I think going over 40 was a key one. So yes 39.08 I would probably try and manage that at home, hitting over 40 I would be going to the emergency room” (i12).
“It’s more seeing the difference…it’s seeing how long it’s taken her to get up to that temperature and that sort of thing” (i18).
Monitoring response to treatment
“if the temperature responds to Paracetamol or Ibuprofen..if it comes down within half an hour or so then generally there’s not too much to worry about but if it doesn’t respond to either of those two then it could be something more serious” (i10).
Thresholds for a “bad” fever
“In actual fact I can’t even remember it from one week to the next, so basically every time they have a fever I have to Google what is actually acceptable and what is not” (i20).
“So the blue one had a smiley face…just kind of symbols rather than numbers…I much preferred that because even though I would count myself as a fairly knowledgeable person, when she’s unwell I’m a bit stressed I can’t then remember what counts as a temperature” (i6).
“I think I go with a general look of how they look to me and how poorly they look and how they behave. And then I touch them and if they’re really, really [hot]…knowing immediately if it is really high fever” (i16).
Sources of advice
Advice about fever
“I would call my mum. Normally my mum would be the one who will say I really think you ought to take her to the doctors if it’s something I’m not sure about. Yeah she’s had three children, she’s also got six grandchildren so I feel that..she’s got experience behind her.” (i15).
“Probably initially I would probably consult Dr Google but if I was really concerned I would call the doctors surgery.” (i15).
“If she was to get a fever I would ring 111 or the doctors to seek advice. And then normally they recommend to give a bit of Calpol to try and help bring it down but my first thought would be to ring one of them to see if I could get advice from them first.” (i18).
“Well if, if it’s something I can do for her myself..and they can tell me what to do I find that very helpful. Because then obviously I’m not just taking her down to the doctors to waste their time as well as my own when it can be something that’s easily done at home.” (i18).
“I wouldn’t really care too much about the doctor knowing what was wrong just wanting them to reassure us it’s nothing major.” (i9).
Advice about thermometers
“I looked into this because I wanted to get the right thermometer..I ended up reading a lot of stuff on the Braun website and then I tried finding information on Which Online..I normally like to try and find some independent body that’s actually got information..people who have got a vested interest in marketing something seem to be the ones who are providing the most information. So I’d like the NHS to have this sort of information accessible.” (i9).
“When [he] was first born I went out and bought a relatively cheap one..and the readings were just rubbish..it was obvious he had a temperature and it wasn’t detecting that..I went out and I bought the one that they use in the doctors surgeries and I’m confident that that is accurate.” (i8).
Home use patterns and parental experience
Parental factors influencing use of thermometers
“I think if you have something at home you will have the tendency to check more often especially when they’re little, I know as a first time mum if you they feel a bit hot you think…I need to get the thermometer out and check the temperature..” (i2).
“I mean I’m not so worried now but when you’re a new parent you just want to know you’re not just giving them medicine for the sake…I just really wanted to know did they have a fever or not and I think you’re always maybe, not in a panic but you’re not necessarily relaxed so a thermometer that you can use that basically does it quickly without you having to think too much about it” (i20).
Motivation for healthcare consultations
“I think you just gain more confidence the more children you have and the older they get.. whereas if you’d asked me that question when he was 11/12 months… I would say as soon as I detect a high temperature I’m at the doctors regardless of what else is happening.” (i8).
“It’s good to have a RAG status [Red Amber Green] on the thermometer.. but that’s quite reassuring because obviously amber is up to, I’ve got a feeling it’s 38 something and then anything I think above that is red and again that just sort of makes you feel a bit more reassured let’s try the Calpol route let’s see how his general behaviour is before we sort of jump the gun and start calling especially at weekends, out of hours” (i8).