The Clusters of Fever-Related Symptoms among Patients at the Emergency Room
10.22650/JKCNR.2017.23.1.20
- Author:
Sun Gyoung NA
1
;
Hyun A SHIN
;
Eui Geum OH
Author Information
1. RN, Department of Nursing, Samsung Medical Center, Doctoral Student, College of Nursing, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Emergency Room;
Fever;
Symptom Cluster
- MeSH:
Emergencies;
Emergency Service, Hospital;
Fever;
Headache;
Hope;
Humans;
Myalgia;
Retrospective Studies;
Statistics as Topic;
Symptom Assessment;
Tertiary Care Centers
- From:
Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
2017;23(1):20-29
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate symptoms experienced by patients who reported fever at the emergency room (ER) and to identify any existing cluster of symptom related to fever. METHODS: The study used a retrospective and descriptive design with secondary data analysis. Data were abstracted from 665medical records of patients with fever who visited ER from September 1, 2015 to August 31, 2016 at a tertiary hospital. RESULTS: The most frequently reported symptoms included cold (43.9%), myalgia (24.1%), headache (16.2%), general weakness (15.3%), respiratory symptoms (12.3%), gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms (12.0%), mental change (4.5%), sweating(1.8%), and warmth (0.9%). Analysis of the symptoms related to fever revealed seven symptom clusters; Cluster 1 (n=190) included cold (100%) and myalgia (28.9%); Cluster 2 (n=37), headache (100%) and myalgia (32.4%); Cluster 3 (n=33), GI symptoms (100%), general weakness, headache, and cold; Cluster 4 (n=34), cold (100%), myalgia, headache, and respiratory symptoms; Cluster 5 (n=241), respiratory symptoms (10.8%); Cluster 6 (n=76): myalgia (75.0%) and general weakness, and Cluster 7 (n=54), cold (87.0%), general weakness, and respiratory symptoms. CONCLUSION: The results of this comprehensive symptom assessment are hoped to be helpful in developing better symptom management for ER patients with fever than before. Further research is warranted to verify the symptom clusters of this study in different clinical settings.
