bims-librar 2024-04-14 papers

bims-librar

Biomed News

on Biomedical librarianship

Issue of 2024–04–14
sixteen papers selected by
Thomas Krichel, Open Library Society

The assault on America's libraries designed to foster ignorance and damage social and individual wellbeing.
Transforming health science libraries around the globe: The impact of technology.
Tools and resources for conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
I Read Health Information Online-Can I Trust It?
Artificial intelligence large language model ChatGPT: is it a trustworthy and reliable source of information for sarcoma patients?
Public knowledge and information sources for clinical trials among adults in the USA: evidence from a Health Information National Trends Survey in 2020.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of English language online patient education materials in breast cancer: Is readability the only story?
Deciphering the enigma of itch sensation: insights and impact from a readability study.
Readability of Online Patient Education Materials for Shoulder Instability Surgery in English and Spanish.
Development and Evaluation of a Quality Assessment Tool for Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy Videos: A Review and Comparison of Academic and Online Video Resources.
Evaluation of the reliability and accuracy of YouTube™ and TikTok™ contents about storage media for avulsed teeth: A cross-sectional study.
The Lack of High-quality Educational Resources about Adhesive Capsulitis on YouTube.
Associations and gender differences between OHI-seeking behaviors and eHealth literacy among Chinese university students.
Online Sexual Health Information Seeking Patterns Differentiated by Social Location and Physical Location among Gay and Bisexual Men in Ontario, Canada.
Characteristics and Quality of Online Searches for Direct Anterior Versus Posterior Approach for Total Hip Arthroplasty.
The information seeking behaviors of caregivers in the management of childhood fever - A systematic literature review.

Explore (NY). 2024 Feb 27. pii: S1550-8307(24)00050-8. [Epub ahead of print]

The assault on America's libraries designed to foster ignorance and damage social and individual wellbeing.

Stephan A Schwartz.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2024.02.005
Health Info Libr J. 2024 Apr 08.

Transforming health science libraries around the globe: The impact of technology.

Jeannette Murphy.

  This article presents an analysis of seven articles published within the International Perspectives and Initiatives regular feature series on the impact of technology on the provision of health information. The articles provide a road map of how technology is facilitating new and enhanced services for library users in seven countries: Australia, Bangladesh, China, England, Germany, Sweden and the United States. Although there are differences in how countries are implementing technological solutions, only one describes problems in leveraging technology to improve library services. Authors from the remaining six countries describe how they ensure that the 21st century library consults with its user groups and find way of using the latest applications.

Keywords:  comparative study; digital information resources; global health; information and communication technologies; librarians; organisational objectives; overview

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1111/hir.12527
Cir Esp (Engl Ed). 2024 Apr 10. pii: S2173-5077(24)00091-7. [Epub ahead of print]

Tools and resources for conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Roser Bono, Maria J Blanca.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cireng.2024.03.003
JAMA Intern Med. 2024 Apr 08.

I Read Health Information Online-Can I Trust It?

Kelly Johnson-Arbor.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2024.0340
Front Public Health. 2024 ;12 1303319

Artificial intelligence large language model ChatGPT: is it a trustworthy and reliable source of information for sarcoma patients?

Marisa Valentini, Joanna Szkandera, Maria Smolle, Susanne Scheipl, Andreas Leithner, Dimosthenis Andreou.

   Introduction: Since its introduction in November 2022, the artificial intelligence large language model ChatGPT has taken the world by storm. Among other applications it can be used by patients as a source of information on diseases and their treatments. However, little is known about the quality of the sarcoma-related information ChatGPT provides. We therefore aimed at analyzing how sarcoma experts evaluate the quality of ChatGPT's responses on sarcoma-related inquiries and assess the bot's answers in specific evaluation metrics.
Methods: The ChatGPT responses to a sample of 25 sarcoma-related questions (5 definitions, 9 general questions, and 11 treatment-related inquiries) were evaluated by 3 independent sarcoma experts. Each response was compared with authoritative resources and international guidelines and graded on 5 different metrics using a 5-point Likert scale: completeness, misleadingness, accuracy, being up-to-date, and appropriateness. This resulted in maximum 25 and minimum 5 points per answer, with higher scores indicating a higher response quality. Scores ≥21 points were rated as very good, between 16 and 20 as good, while scores ≤15 points were classified as poor (11-15) and very poor (≤10).
Results: The median score that ChatGPT's answers achieved was 18.3 points (IQR, i.e., Inter-Quartile Range, 12.3-20.3 points). Six answers were classified as very good, 9 as good, while 5 answers each were rated as poor and very poor. The best scores were documented in the evaluation of how appropriate the response was for patients (median, 3.7 points; IQR, 2.5-4.2 points), which were significantly higher compared to the accuracy scores (median, 3.3 points; IQR, 2.0-4.2 points; p = 0.035). ChatGPT fared considerably worse with treatment-related questions, with only 45% of its responses classified as good or very good, compared to general questions (78% of responses good/very good) and definitions (60% of responses good/very good).
Discussion: The answers ChatGPT provided on a rare disease, such as sarcoma, were found to be of very inconsistent quality, with some answers being classified as very good and others as very poor. Sarcoma physicians should be aware of the risks of misinformation that ChatGPT poses and advise their patients accordingly.

Keywords:  ChatGPT; artificial intelligence; information quality; patient information; sarcoma

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1303319
Clin Med (Lond). 2022 Sep;pii: S1470-2118(24)02656-3. [Epub ahead of print]22(5): 416-422

Public knowledge and information sources for clinical trials among adults in the USA: evidence from a Health Information National Trends Survey in 2020.

Sandhya Yadav, Alissa Todd, Krupal Patel, Amir A Tabriz, Oliver Nguyen, Kea Turner, Young-Rock Hong.

   BACKGROUND: Lack of clinical trial awareness has been identified as a barrier to clinical trial recruitment. Identifying factors associated with clinical trial knowledge could inform ongoing efforts to improve diversity in clinical trials.
METHODS: Using data from the Health Information National Trends Survey, 2020, we examined the knowledge of clinical trials, associated characteristics, sources of clinical trial information and motives to participate in clinical trials among the general population in the USA.
RESULTS: Of 3,772 US adults, 41.3% reported not knowing about clinical trials. Prevalence of having no knowledge of clinical trials was higher among Hispanic adults (51.8%) and non-Hispanic Black adults (41.8%) compared with non-Hispanic White adults (37.4%; p=0.013). Other significant predictors of knowledge about clinical trials included higher education, online health information-seeking behaviour and patient portal access. Most respondents (73.2%) reported that healthcare providers were the most trusted source of information. Helping other people (71.6%) was the primary motivation for clinical trial participation, followed by financial compensation (12.5%) and receiving better treatment (5.1%).
CONCLUSION: There is a gap in knowledge about clinical trials among the US population. Development of multimodal approaches, including online and offline information broadcasting, is needed to improve knowledge and clinical trial recruitment in diverse populations.

Keywords:  clinical trial; public knowledge; recruitment

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.7861/clinmed.2022-0107
Breast. 2024 Apr 03. pii: S0960-9776(24)00053-5. [Epub ahead of print]75 103722

A systematic review and meta-analysis of English language online patient education materials in breast cancer: Is readability the only story?

Joey Z Gu, Grayson L Baird, Antonio Escamilla Guevara, Young-Jin Sohn, Melis Lydston, Christopher Doyle, Sarah E A Tevis, Randy C Miles.

   BACKGROUND: Online patient education materials (OPEMs) are an increasingly popular resource for women seeking information about breast cancer. The AMA recommends written patient material to be at or below a 6th grade level to meet the general public's health literacy. Metrics such as quality, understandability, and actionability also heavily influence the usability of health information, and thus should be evaluated alongside readability.
PURPOSE: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to determine: 1) Average readability scores and reporting methodologies of breast cancer readability studies; and 2) Inclusion frequency of additional health literacy-associated metrics.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A registered systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted in Ovid MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase.com, CENTRAL via Ovid, and ClinicalTrials.gov in June 2022 in adherence with the PRISMA 2020 statement. Eligible studies performed readability analyses on English-language breast cancer-related OPEMs. Study characteristics, readability data, and reporting of non-readability health literacy metrics were extracted. Meta-analysis estimates were derived from generalized linear mixed modeling.
RESULTS: The meta-analysis included 30 studies yielding 4462 OPEMs. Overall, average readability was 11.81 (95% CI [11.14, 12.49]), with a significant difference (p < 0.001) when grouped by OPEM categories. Commercial organizations had the highest average readability at 12.2 [11.3,13.0]; non-profit organizations had one of the lowest at 11.3 [10.6,12.0]. Readability also varied by index, with New Fog, Lexile, and FORCAST having the lowest average scores (9.4 [8.6, 10.3], 10.4 [10.0, 10.8], and 10.7 [10.2, 11.1], respectively). Only 57% of studies calculated average readability with more than two indices. Only 60% of studies assessed other OPEM metrics associated with health literacy.
CONCLUSION: Average readability of breast cancer OPEMs is nearly double the AMA's recommended 6th grade level. Readability and other health literacy-associated metrics are inconsistently reported in the current literature. Standardization of future readability studies, with a focus on holistic evaluation of patient materials, may aid shared decision-making and be critical to increased screening rates and breast cancer awareness.

Keywords:  Health literacy; Mammography; Meta-analysis; Patient education; Quality; Systematic review

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.breast.2024.103722
Int J Dermatol. 2024 Apr 05.

Deciphering the enigma of itch sensation: insights and impact from a readability study.

Tomasz Skrzypczak, Anna Skrzypczak, Jacek C Szepietowski.

   BACKGROUND: Itch terminology is ambiguous. How itch was described in online materials and how terminology influenced the readability of these materials was previously unknown.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two groups of search terms, itch and prurigo, were translated into five of the most prevalent European Union (EU) languages. The itch group consisted of "itch" and "pruritus." The prurigo group consisted of "prurigo," "prurigo nodularis," and "chronic prurigo". Then, a search of the terms in each language was queried in the Google search engine in the private mode of the Internet browser. The first 50 results generated were assessed for suitability. Patient education was the primary objective of the materials provided, with no barriers or advertisements included. In cases where the terms yielded identical outcomes, any duplicated materials were omitted from the analysis. When translating search terms within a group led to just one shared transcription, the results were attributed to the search term with the most similar syntax. The Lix score was utilized to assess readability.
RESULTS: 314 articles in English, German, Italian, French, and Spanish were evaluated. The term "pruritus" was the most commonly used description for the sensation of itching, with 142 (45%) articles included. Overall, the mean Lix score was 54 ± 9, classifying all articles as hard to comprehend. Articles in the itch group had significantly (P < 0.001) lower mean Lix score (52 ± 9) than materials in the prurigo group (56 ± 10).
CONCLUSIONS: Despite being more accessible to conceptualize, skin conditions such as prurigo had lower readability compared to information about the itch itself. The distinction between "itch" and "pruritus" was unclear.

Keywords:  Itch; itching; prurigo; readability; terminology

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1111/ijd.17144
J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2024 Apr 04. pii: S1058-2746(24)00230-1. [Epub ahead of print]

Readability of Online Patient Education Materials for Shoulder Instability Surgery in English and Spanish.

Jacob S Ghahremani, Jenna E Ogi, Michael T Kody, Ronald A Navarro.

   BACKGROUND: Online patient education materials exist to inform patient medical decisions, yet the average adult in the United States reads at an eighth-grade level and 50% of Medicaid patients read at or below a fifth-grade level. To appropriately meet U.S. health literacy needs, the American Medical Association and National Institutes of Health recommend that patient education materials not exceed a sixth-grade level. The purpose of this study was to assess and compare the readability of English and Spanish online patient education materials pertaining to shoulder instability surgery.
METHODS: Google searches of the terms "shoulder instability surgery" and "cirugía de inestabilidad de hombro'' were conducted to include 25 eligible OPEMs per language. English OPEM readability was calculated using Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, Flesch Reading Ease, Flesch Reading Ease Grade Level, Gunning-Fog Index, Coleman-Liau Index, and Simple Measure of Gobbledygook. Spanish OPEM readability was assessed using Fernandez-Huerta Index (the Spanish equivalent of Flesch Reading Ease), Fernandez-Huerta Index Grade Level, Gutiérrez de Polini's Fórmula de comprensibilidad, and INFLESZ.
RESULTS: Readability index analysis revealed that the mean Flesch Reading Ease of English online patient education materials was significantly lower than the mean Fernandez-Huerta Index of Spanish online patient education materials. English materials were also found to be written at a significantly higher grade level than Spanish materials.
CONCLUSIONS: Shoulder instability surgery online patient education materials in both English and Spanish are written at higher reading levels than recommended by the AMA and NIH, though Spanish online patient education materials were more readable on average.

Keywords:  Health equity; Health literacy; Internet Sources; Level of Evidence: Survey Study; Patient Education Materials; Patient education materials; Readability; Shoulder instability; Sports medicine

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2024.02.028
Obes Surg. 2024 Apr 06.

Development and Evaluation of a Quality Assessment Tool for Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy Videos: A Review and Comparison of Academic and Online Video Resources.

Laith Alghazawi, Michael G Fadel, Jun Yu Chen, Bibek Das, Henry Robb, Maria Rita Rodriguez-Luna, Naim Fakih-Gomez, Silvana Perretta, Hutan Ashrafian, Matyas Fehervari.

   BACKGROUND: Video recording of surgical procedures is increasing in popularity. They are presented in various platforms, many of which are not peer-reviewed. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) videos are widely available; however, there is limited evidence supporting the use of reporting guidelines when uploading LSG videos to create a valuable educational video. We aimed to determine the variations and establish the quality of published LSG videos, in both peer-reviewed literature and on YouTube, using a newly designed checklist to improve the quality and enhance the transparency of video reporting.
METHODS: A quality assessment tool was designed by using existing research and society guidelines, such as the Bariatric Metabolic Surgery Standardization (BMSS). A systematic review using PRISMA guidelines was performed on MEDLINE and EMBASE databases to identify video case reports (academic videos) and a similar search was performed on the commercial YouTube platform (commercial videos) simultaneously. All videos displaying LSG were reviewed and scored using the quality assessment tool. Academic and commercial videos were subsequently compared and an evidence-based checklist was created.
RESULTS: A total of 93 LSG recordings including 26 academic and 67 commercial videos were reviewed. Mean score of the checklist was 5/11 and 4/11 for videos published in articles and YouTube, respectively. Academic videos had higher rates of describing instruments used, such as orogastric tube (P < 0.001) and stapler information (P = 0.04). Fifty-four percent of academic videos described short-term patient outcomes, while not reported in commercial videos (P < 0.001). Sleeve resection status was not universally reported.
CONCLUSIONS: Videos published in the academic literature are describing steps in greater detail with more emphasis on specific technical elements and patient outcomes and thus have a higher educational value. A new quality assessment tool has been proposed for video reporting guidelines to improve the reliability and value of published video research.

Keywords:  Educational video; Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy; Video quality assessment; Video reporting guidelines

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-024-07199-0
Dent Traumatol. 2024 Apr 09.

Evaluation of the reliability and accuracy of YouTube™ and TikTok™ contents about storage media for avulsed teeth: A cross-sectional study.

Selin Saygili, Ilke Gezer, Hatice Sena Oner, Elif Bahar Tuna-Ince, Yelda Kasimoglu.

   BACKGROUND/AIMS: The preservation of avulsed teeth is critical in dental trauma management, necessitating effective storage media to ensure viable tooth reimplantation. The urgent need for accurate information has led both professional and non-professional individuals to increasingly seek guidance from video-sharing platforms such as YouTube™ and TikTok™. These platforms have become key resources for advice on such dental emergencies, but the reliability and accuracy of this information have not yet been systematically evaluated. This study aimed to assess the quality, accuracy, and reliability YouTube™ and TikTok™ of videos regarding storage solutions for avulsion injuries.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: A search was conducted on YouTube™ and TikTok™ on February 4th, 2023, using terms related to traumatic dental injuries, and 53 videos were included. Video demographics such as platform, duration, type, upload date, likes, and comments were recorded. Video content quality, reliability, and accuracy were measured using the Global Quality Scale (GQS), Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmarks, and Video Information and Quality Index (VIQI). Research data were analyzed using SPSS IBM 24.0 at a 95% confidence interval.
RESULTS: In total, 53 videos were examined. The average scores were JAMA: 1.70/4.00, modified DISCERN: 54.3/80.00, GQS: 3.88/5.00, and VIQI: 13.8/20.00. According to the modified DISCERN index, there were no "very poor" or "poor" quality videos, 49.05% were "moderate," 22.6% were "good," and 28.3% were "very good." No difference was found between YouTube™ and TikTok™ videos in terms of the modified DISCERN index, JAMA scores, GQS, and VIQI scoring (p > .05).
CONCLUSIONS: Traumatic dental injuries are a common problem among children, and evaluating the reliability of available contents is becoming crucial for appropriate intervention. The study reveals that despite being sourced mainly from dental professionals, the overall quality of videos on avulsed tooth management was mediocre, underscoring the risks associated with misleading or incomplete information in such critical situations.

Keywords:  avulsed tooth; guideline adherence; milk; video‐audio media

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1111/edt.12952
Rev Bras Ortop (Sao Paulo). 2024 Apr;59(2): e260-e268

The Lack of High-quality Educational Resources about Adhesive Capsulitis on YouTube.

Ali Yüce, Volkan Gür, Mustafa Yerli, Abdulhamit Misir.

  Objective The advent of the Internet has provided new, easily accessible resources for patients seeking additional health information. Many doctors and healthcare organizations post informative videos on this platform, and nearly all patients are looking for videos online for a second opinion. Methods The phrases "frozen shoulder," "frozen shoulder treatment," "adhesive" capsulitis, and "adhesive capsulitis treatment" were entered into YouTube's search bar for a normal inquiry. The informativeness and overall quality of the adhesive capsulitis videos were rated using three separate scales. Results The mean and standard deviation values of the scoring systems were JAMA 1.25 ± 0.51, DISCERN 39.4 ± 13.4, GQS 2.83 ± 0.96 and ACSS 7.43 ± 4.86, respectively. Number of views, rate of views, and likes all had a positive correlation with Global Quality Score (GQS), as did DISCERN and ACSS. There was no statistically significant difference between the median JAMA, GQS score and Discern Criteria values according to the video source/uploader (p > 0.05). Conclusion YouTube videos on adhesive capsulitis, thus, need to be of higher quality, reliability, and instructive quality. There is a need for reliable videos about adhesive capsulitis, with instructional and high-quality cited.

Keywords:  adhesive capsulitis; bursitis; internet; social media; video recording

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0044-1785465
Rev Esc Enferm USP. 2024 ;pii: S0080-62342024000100409. [Epub ahead of print]58 e20230340

Associations and gender differences between OHI-seeking behaviors and eHealth literacy among Chinese university students.

Jie Chen, Hua Tian.

OBJECTIVE: to explore associations and gender differences between OHI-seeking (online health information seeking) behaviors and eHealth (electronic health) literacy among Chinese university students.
METHODS: Online questionnaires of eHealth literacy scale and OHI-seeking behaviors created in software Wenjunxing were used in this survey. Chi-squared tests, t-test, and Pearson correlation analysis were performed using SPSS for data analysis.
RESULTS: Among 5,383 participants, 72.4% were girls, 77.5% lived in rural areas, 51.2% majored in liberal arts, 76.6% with low education parents. The average C-eHEALS scores of boys and girls were 26.53 ± 5.861 and 26.84 ± 5.816, respectively, with no significant difference (P = 0.084). The top three OHI-seeking behaviors for boys and girls, as well as for the C-eHEALS low and high groups, were "finding information about physical exercises" "reading or sharing health information via social media" "finding information about nutrition and diet", all of which had significant gender and eHealth literacy differences.
CONCLUSIONS: Gender and eHealth literacy differences should be focused for intervention when developing and implementing eHealth intervention training for parents and adolescents in schools and communities.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-220X-REEUSP-2023-0340en
Int J Sex Health. 2022 ;34(4): 627-643

Online Sexual Health Information Seeking Patterns Differentiated by Social Location and Physical Location among Gay and Bisexual Men in Ontario, Canada.

David J Brennan, Maya A Kesler, Adam W J Davies, Aidan Ablona, David Collict.

   Objective: This research aimed to understand the varying needs of diverse gay and bisexual men (GBM) in relation to online sexual health information-seeking dependent upon differing social sociodemographic variables and geographic location.
Methods: A total of 1802 GBM in Ontario participated in this study. Multivariable regressions were conducted to analyze differences in information-seeking based on ethnicity group, HIV status, recent sexual behavior and regionality (urban and rural location).
Results: There were significant differences in online sexual health information-seeking content based on these demographic variables.
Conclusions: Implications for sexual health outreach and service provision for diverse GBM are discussed as well.

Keywords:  Gay and bisexual men; online information seeking; sexual health

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1080/19317611.2022.2091076
J Arthroplasty. 2024 Apr 04. pii: S0883-5403(24)00264-X. [Epub ahead of print]

Characteristics and Quality of Online Searches for Direct Anterior Versus Posterior Approach for Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Renee Ren, Rodnell Busigó-Torres, Graham Sabo, Juan Sebastian Arroyave Villada, Brocha Z Stern, Darwin D Chen, Brett L Hayden, Jashvant Poeran, Calin S Moucha.

   INTRODUCTION: Online resources are important for patient self-education and reflect public interest. We described commonly asked questions regarding the direct anterior versus posterior approach (DAA, PA) to total hip arthroplasty (THA) and the quality of associated websites.
METHODS: We extracted the top 200 questions and websites in Google's "People Also Ask" section for eight queries on January 8, 2023, and grouped websites and questions into DAA, PA, or comparison. Questions were categorized using Rothwell's classification (fact, policy, value) and THA-relevant subtopics. Websites were evaluated by information source, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Benchmark Criteria (credibility), DISCERN survey (information quality), and readability.
RESULTS: We included 429 question/website combinations (questions: 52.2% DAA, 21.2% PA, 26.6% comparison; websites: 39.0% DAA, 11.0% PA, 9.6% comparison). Per Rothwell's classification, 56.2% of questions were fact, 31.7% value, 10.0% policy, and 2.1% unrelated. The THA-specific question subtopics differed between DAA and PA (P < 0.001), specifically for recovery timeline (DAA 20.5%, PA 37.4%), indications/management (DAA 13.4%, PA 1.1%), and technical details (DAA 13.8%, PA 5.5%). Information sources differed between DAA (61.7% medical practice/surgeon) and PA websites (44.7% government; P < 0.001). The median JAMA Benchmark score was 1 (limited credibility, interquartile range 1 to 2), with lowest scores for DAA websites (P < 0.001). The median DISCERN score was 55 ("good" quality, interquartile range 43 to 65), with highest scores for comparison websites (P < 0.001). Median Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level scores were 12th grade level for both DAA and PA (P = 0.94).
CONCLUSION: Patients' informational interests can guide counseling. Internet searches that explicitly compare THA approaches yielded websites that provide higher-quality information. Providers may also advise patients that physician websites and websites only describing the DAA may have less balanced perspectives, and limited information regarding surgical approaches is available from social media resources.

Keywords:  direct anterior approach; online health information; patient counseling; posterior approach; total hip replacement

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arth.2024.03.048
Res Social Adm Pharm. 2024 Feb 28. pii: S1551-7411(24)00080-9. [Epub ahead of print]

The information seeking behaviors of caregivers in the management of childhood fever - A systematic literature review.

Daniel Arias, Esther So, Timothy F Chen, Rebekah J Moles.

   INTRODUCTION: Parents' and caregivers' non-evidence-based childhood fever management 'fever phobic' practices have remained relatively stable over more than 34 years despite successful educational interventions. This systematic review aimed to assess the information seeking behavior of caregivers managing fever in their children, as well as to compile the fever management practices undertaken by caregivers by investigating underlying factors influencing them.
METHODS: The electronic databases Pubmed, CINAHL, Medline, and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts were searched using key terms including, fever, child, caregiver, and management. Studies were included if they were written in English, published between January 1980 and January 2021, explored generalized childhood fever management practices of caregivers, and factors which influence fever management. Data extracted included study year and design, location, dimensions of fever management explored (i.e., knowledge, beliefs, detection, and/or treatment of fever), factors influencing management, and information sources used by caregivers.
RESULTS: In total, 36 studies were eligible for inclusion in the study. Twenty-nine of the studies were designed as a cross-sectional survey, six studies were interviews and the remainder were pre-post studies. The review of studies found that parents and caregivers sourced childhood fever management information most commonly from friends and family or their own personal experiences, however, participants most commonly sourced doctors/general practitioners as their first line of information when required. Over the years, trends showed that doctors as well as the internet were more frequently being used as a first line source of information by caregivers.
CONCLUSIONS: Despite decades of research, education and development of evidence-based guidelines caregivers continue to exhibit 'fever phobia' when caring for febrile children. This is demonstrated by their continued use of non-evidence-based methods and increasing reliance on, and incorrect use of antipyretics, alternating antipyretics if fever is not sufficiently reduced or returns. There is an increasing need for the development of easy to access digital resources for caregiver as internet use is rising which mirrors best practice taught to professionals.

Keywords:  Antipyretics; Children; Management; Paediatrics; Pediatrics; fever; fever phobia

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2024.02.015