Childhood fever and medical students: A multicentre, educational intervention

Abstract

AimMisconceptions and non‐evidence‐based practices toward childhood fever are reported worldwide. Medical students might be ideal candidates to introduce long‐lasting changes in clinical practice. However, no study has gauged the effectiveness of an educational intervention to improve fever management in this population. We conducted an educational, interventional study on childhood fever among final‐year medical students.MethodsWe conducted a prospective, multicentre interventional study employing a pre/post‐test design. Participants from three Italian Universities filled in a questionnaire just before the intervention (T0), immediately after (T1) and 6 months later (T2) in 2022. The intervention was a two‐hour lecture focused on the pathophysiology of fever, recommendations for its treatment and risks associated with improper management.Results188 final‐year medical students (median age of 26 years, 67% females) were enrolled. Relevant improvements in the criterion for treating fever and conceptions about the beneficial effects of fever were observed at T1 and T2. Similar data were found for the reduction of physical methods advice to decrease body temperature and concerns for brain damage from fever.ConclusionThis study shows for the first time that an educational intervention is effective in changing students' conceptions and attitudes toward fever both in the short and medium term.

Some like it hot

“…In this issue, the study by Milani and colleagues delivers some clues that theoretical knowledge can effectively be taught among advancedmedicalstudents,withpersistenceforatleast6 months. 10 The examined intervention is praiseworthy, because this group of young and receptive future physicians represent an invaluable opportunity for teaching virtuous practices. Yet, some questions remain unanswered.…”

Issue highlights

“…Misconceptions about childhood fever, and practices that are not based on evidence, have been reported worldwide. An Italian study of 188 final‐year medical students showed that an educational intervention had improved attitudes toward childhood fever 6 months later 8 . The authors suggest that educating medical students might be the ideal way to introduce long‐lasting changes in day‐to‐day clinical practice on childhood fever.…”

Lack of evidence for a beneficial effect of antipyretic drugs

“…We thank the recent study by Milani et al 1 to try to untangle the knot that is strangling fever, which enhances the immune response and induces stress on pathogens. We would like to take this opportunity to express our opinion in line with this old idea that fever has existed longer than antipyretic drugs and that while some fish or lizards will intentionally raise their temperature in response to infection, humans are the only species that will intentionally lower their temperature in this situation.…”