Investigating the effect of guided self-help through social networks on post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and resilience of mothers with children suffering from febrile seizures.

BACKGROUND: Seizure caused by fever is the most common seizure disorder in childhood, which occurs in children between 6 months and 5 years, with a temperature above 38 degrees Celsius. Mothers as primary caregivers are more involved in this challenge. Most of them do not have enough knowledge about this disease, and some of them suffer from post-traumatic stress symptoms due to seizures in their children, such as avoiding situations reminiscent of seizures, disturbing thoughts and symptoms of hyperarousal, and symptoms of loss of resilience, such as lack of personal competence, inability to solve problems, self-confidence, lack of control over life affairs, and lack of meaning and purpose in life. Guided self-help through social networks is a care option that can expand access to effective interventions. However, sufficient studies have not been conducted regarding the use of this method in reducing post-traumatic stress symptoms and improving resilience. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to determine the effect of self-help guided through social networks on post-traumatic stress symptoms and resilience of mothers with children suffering from febrile convulsions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study is of an experimental type and trial in the field, the research population of which is all mothers with children suffering from febrile convulsions who were referred to the internal department of children or pediatric events of Imam Sajjad Hospital (AS) affiliated to Yasuj University of Medical Sciences in 1402. A total of 159 mothers with children suffering from febrile convulsions diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and loss of resilience were eligible to enter the study by available sampling and were assigned to one of two intervention and control groups based on random block allocation. Data were collected using the demographic profile form, Weiss and Marmer's (revised) 22-item event impact scale, and Connor-Davidson's 25-item resilience scale before and immediately after the end of the intervention. The intervention was conducted in eight sessions of 90 minutes for 8 weeks through the Rubika social network.

RESULTS: After the intervention, the mean (standard deviation) of post-traumatic stress symptoms in the intervention group was 20.61 (5.22) and that of the control group was 33.92 (4.01); there was a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). Also, after the test, there was a statistically significant difference in the mean (standard deviation) of the resilience score between the intervention group, 87.83 (6.16), and the control group, 42.63 (13.78) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Guided self-help through social networks is effective in reducing post-traumatic stress symptoms and improving the resilience of mothers with children suffering from febrile convulsions. Therefore, it is suggested that the members of the health team consider the implementation of this method for mothers with post-traumatic stress symptoms and reduced resilience and use this useful and beneficial method.