Effects of a case-based simulation fever management education program for parents of hospitalized children in South Korea: a quasi-experimental study

초록

Purpose: Because fever is a common symptom in children, parents must have accurate knowledge and management ability about it to be able to provide appropriate management. This study aimed to develop a fever management education program, incorporating case-based simulation practice for parents of hospitalized children, and examine its effects on knowledge of fever in children, anxiety related to fever, and self-efficacy in child fever management. Methods: A quasi-experimental, non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was employed. A total of 50 parents participated, with 24 and 26 in the experimental and control groups, respectively. The experimental group received both theoretical lectures and case-based simulation practice, whereas the control group received only theoretical lectures. Results: No statistically significant differences were observed between the groups regarding knowledge of fever or anxiety related to fever immediately after the intervention or at the 4-week follow-up. However, the experimental group showed a significant improvement in self-efficacy in fever management from pre- to post-intervention. Conclusion: The findings suggest that fever management education incorporating case-based simulation practice, in addition to theoretical instruction, could potentially enhance parents’ confidence in managing childhood fever. Developing simulation-based educational interventions that enhance long-term effectiveness, can be feasibly integrated into hospital settings, and provide practical and accessible approaches is essential to support parents in effectively managing fever in real-life situations. © 2025 Korean Academy of Child Health Nursing

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