J Korean Clin Nurs Res.  2017 Apr;23(1):20-29. 10.22650/JKCNR.2017.23.1.20.

The Clusters of Fever-Related Symptoms among Patients at the Emergency Room

• Na SG
• Shin HA
• Oh EG

• KMID: 2397720
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.22650/JKCNR.2017.23.1.20

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.

Keyword

Emergency Room; Fever; Symptom Cluster

MeSH Terms

Emergencies*
Emergency Service, Hospital*
Fever
Headache
Hope
Humans
Myalgia
Retrospective Studies
Statistics as Topic
Symptom Assessment
Tertiary Care Centers