• Emerg Med Australas · Dec 2022

    Randomized Controlled Trial

    Paediatric fever management practices and antipyretic use among doctors and nurses in New Zealand emergency departments.

    • Eunicia Tan, Sierra Beck, Libby Haskell, Alastair MacLean, Alice Rogan, Martin Than, Bridget Venning, Christopher White, Kim Yates, Christopher Jd McKinlay, and Stuart R Dalziel.
    • Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
    • Emerg Med Australas. 2022 Dec 1; 34 (6): 943953943-953.

    ObjectivesTo assess (i) paediatric fever management practices among New Zealand ED doctors and nurses, including adherence to best practice guidelines; and (ii) the acceptability of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of antipyretics for relief of discomfort in young children.MethodsA cross-sectional survey of doctors and nurses across 11 New Zealand EDs. The primary outcome of adherence to paediatric fever management best practice guidelines was assessed with clinical vignettes and defined as single antipyretic use for the relief of fever-related discomfort.ResultsOut of 602 participants (243 doctors, 353 nurses and six unknown; response rate 47.5%), only 64 (10.6%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 8.3-13.4%) demonstrated adherence to best practice guidelines. In a febrile settled child with normal fluid intake, the percentage of participants that would use antipyretics doubled with abnormal vital signs (33.7% vs 72.9%, difference -39.2%, 95% CI -44.4% to -34.0%). Most participants would use antipyretics for reduced fluid intake (n = 494, 82.1%, 95% CI 78.8-85.0%) in a febrile settled child. Over half (n = 339, 57.1%, 95% CI 53.0-61.1%) would advise giving antipyretics to prevent febrile convulsions. Most (n = 467, 80.0%, 95% CI 76.5-83.1%) participants agreed that a RCT of antipyretics in febrile children <2 years of age with relief of discomfort as a primary outcome is needed.ConclusionsJust over 10% of New Zealand ED doctors and nurses demonstrated adherence to paediatric fever management best practice guidelines. A RCT of antipyretics in febrile children <2 years of age specifically addressing relief of discomfort as a primary outcome is strongly supported.© 2022 The Authors. Emergency Medicine Australasia published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australasian College for Emergency Medicine.

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