Effects of pamphlet and telephone counseling on knowledge and attitude change of parents having febrile convulsion children

Febrile convulsion (FC) is a benign disease that occurs in children between 6 months and six years of age. The prevalence rate of FC is 4.2% in Taiwan. Because the appearance of a child during a fit is frightening to parents, their initial reaction is often inappropriate and may actually lead to harm. Parents of children with FC need specific information to manage seizures and release the anxiety. In this experimental study, we developed a pamphlet for parents to improve their knowledge and attitude of FC. To assess the effects of the pamphlet and pamphlet plus telephone counseling of the parents, we assigned the parents to two groups by the randomly permuted block assignment method. A self-developed questionnaire which included the knowledge and attitude about FC was used to examine the effects of different educational interventions. Subjects were collected from children born from 1989 through 1991 in Tainan city. The diagnosis of FC at 3 years old was made via telephone interview or data from home visits. The findings show that both the pamphlet and pamphlet plus telephone counseling can improve parents, knowledge and attitude toward FC. There was no significant difference between the pamphlet and pamphlet plus telephone counseling group in changes of knowledge and attitude toward FC. In conclusion, this pamphlet is appropriate to the emergency setting and out patient unit for giving the parents information about FC. However, the consultation phone line can provide parents with discussion. The next study should evaluate the effect of the pamphlet and phone consultation on relief of anxiety.