ArticleBMJ paediatrics open2024
Coming in hot: a qualitative investigation into perceptions of parents and doctors of reasons for the presentation of children with fever to the emergency department in England.
Article in BMJ paediatrics open, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed.
- Fever, Frustration and Fortitude: A Qualitative Exploration of Nursing Practice in Paediatric Settings.Nursing open · 2026Article
- Greater parental health literacy does not improve assessment of their child's emergency condition severity.BMC emergency medicine · 2026Observational
- Assessing inequalities in paediatric emergency department admissions in the Northwest of England: a retrospective cohort study.BMJ public health · 2026Article
- Understanding Childhood Fever: A Qualitative Study of Family Attitudes, Emotions, and Caregiving Practices.Children (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Optimizing fever management in pediatric emergency medicine: pathophysiology, diagnostics, and evidence-based strategies.International journal of emergency medicine · 2025Review
- Coming in hot: using emotional journey maps to examine parental perceptions associated with presentation of their child with fever to the emergency department in England.BMJ paediatrics open · 2025Article
- Parental Perceptions of Pediatric Fever From Two Medical Centers in Lebanon.International journal of pediatrics · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionPaediatric emergency department (ED) attendances and admissions in England are increasing. Fever is a common presenting problem for these attendances. Anxiety and misperceptions surrounding appropriate management of fever persist among parents. Little evidence exists on the pathways to ED for fever, and doctors' perceptions of why parents present their child to the ED.
objectivesTo understand perceptions of parents and doctors of the reasons for ED presentation for children (0-18 years) with fever in England.
designThis forms the first part of a qualitative study, using reflective thematic analysis.
participants15 parents (12 mothers and 3 fathers) who had taken their febrile child to hospital (2015-2023), and 5 ED doctors (4 consultants and 1 resident doctor) who had experienced treating a febrile child in an ED in England.
methodsSemistructured remote (Zoom) interviews were conducted (2022-2023).
resultsReflexive thematic analysis facilitated investigation into current parental concerns regarding fever and decision-making leading to ED attendance. The overarching theme 'factors influencing unscheduled care' comprised four key themes that reflected the complex interplay between factors influencing parental decision-making to seek emergency care, at the individual and wider structural level. These were parental proficiency and experience; social networks and access to services; fever phobia, uncertainty and anxiety; and reassurance. Doctors also acknowledged the importance of these factors, such as reassurance and showing compassion and further indicated a persistent educational gap surrounding fever between doctors and parents.
conclusionsWe widen the evidence base of why parents attend ED for paediatric fever and their perceptions of other health services. Parents face challenges when seeking care and perceived ED as a last resort. Interventions to support parental decision-making and management of fever could help to alleviate these challenges, as well as potentially reducing the demand for emergency care.
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