Fever video instructions may keep kids out of the ER
NCT ID NCT01655251
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether giving parents a video (DVD) with fever care instructions, instead of just paper, would reduce return visits to the emergency room within 72 hours. It included 273 children aged 8 weeks to 18 years with minor fevers. The goal was to see if better education helps families manage fever at home safely.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could show that simple video instructions help parents manage fever at home, reducing unnecessary return trips to the ER.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed study with no phase, so results may not apply to all hospitals or families. The benefit may be small or not seen in real-world settings.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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273 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Feb 2011
- Finished
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May 2012
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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8 weeks to 18 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Children ages 8 weeks to 18 years * Presented to the ED with a chief complaint of fever. Fever was defined as a temperature greater than or equal to 100.4⁰F * English or Spanish speaking * Working telephone for follow-up call * Venue to view DVD at home (TV, computer, etc) Exclusion Criteria: * Children with a chronic medical illness * Children with immune-compromising conditions * Allergies to acetaminophen or ibuprofen * Previously enrolled * Admitted at the time of their index ED visit
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Connecticut Children's Medical Center
Hartford, Connecticut, 06016, United States
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Connecticut Children's Medical Center
Hartford, Connecticut, 06106, United States