Effect of training on understanding the uncertainty and anxiety of mothers in children with febrile seizure in a hospital: a quasi-experimental study

Fever-related seizures are the most common problems in children between 6 months and 6 years of age. Control of anxiety and proper functioning of mothers are important factors in the management of children's seizure. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of training on understanding the uncertainty and anxiety of mothers in children with febrile seizure.

This is a semi-experimental study. 40 mothers who referred to Imam Ali hospital in Zahedan during 1396- 1396 participated in the study using available sampling method. The samples were divided into two groups: intervention (40 samples) and control (40 samples). The intervention group received training on seizure, individually and in person for 3 sessions of 30-45 minutes. Spielberger and Uncertainty Anxiety Scale (PPUS) was completed before, during and one month after the intervention.

The mean anxiety score at the beginning of the study was 56.63 in the control group and 56.68 in the intervention group and 57.85 in the intervention group and 40.89 in the intervention group, respectively. The uncertainty score of the mothers in the intervention group ranged from 87.53 ± 5.33 to 65.30 ± 5.49 after the intervention and the control group decreased from 84.81 ± 7.90 to 85.87 ± 5.41. There was a significant difference between two groups in terms of two variables (P = 0.0001).

Education can be suggested as one of the methods for reducing the anxiety and uncertainty of mothers in patients with febrile seizure. Increasing awareness and reducing anxiety can help improve mothers' performance during seizure.