THE EFFECT OF FAMILY-CENTERED CARE ON THE PARENTAL ANXIETY OF CHILDREN WITH FEBRILE SEIZURE

Hospitalization of children is a major cause of anxiety emergence in parents. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of family-centered care on parental anxiety of children with febrile seizure.

In the present quasi-experimental study, using a convenience sampling method, 90 parents with children suffering from febrile seizure were divided into two groups: control (45 parents) and intervention groups (45 parents). Children in intervention group received family-centered care while the control group received normal care. Using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory questionnaire, mothers’ anxiety between 12 hours after hospitalization and one month after hospitalization was determined and compared together in two groups. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a chi-square test, a Fisherchr('39')s exact test via SPSS22.

The results showed that the anxiety score of parents at one month after hospitalization was 123.18±18.66 in the control group and 106.87±28.64 in the intervention group. This decrease in intervention group was significant compared to control group (p <0.05). After the intervention, the total anxiety mean score (106.87±28.64) decreased significantly in the experimental group compared to the baseline (133.02±15.26) (p <0.05).

Family-centered care can help reduce maternal anxiety. Therefore, it is recommended to use this method in the care of hospitalized children.