Abstract

Introduction: Accidents are a main health threatening factor and one of the major mortality factors. In Iran, the home is the most common place for accident occurrence. The most vulnerable group in terms of accidents are children. Using a focus group approach is a method for offering solutions to such problems. In health and care areas, focus group approach is a suitable approach for discovering beliefs related to risky behaviors and to search for general perceptions about reasons for diseases. Thus the current research aims at investigating effects of education by focus group discussion on mothers' performance and awareness of domestic accidents in children.& para;& para;Methodology: This is a quasi-experimental before-after research. Sample size was calculated as 40 using the formula. Sampling was done randomly within multi stages. Two questionnaires including mothers' performance measurement and mothers' awareness measurement questionnaires were used for data collection. First, the questionnaires were completed by mothers. Then, educational intervention was done with 6 sessions, and mothers' awareness and performance was measured by completion of questionnaires after 2 months following the sessions, and the results were compared with the results before intervention. Pair-wise t-test was used for data analysis using SPSS 22 software.& para;& para;Findings. According to the findings, awareness and performance of mothers before intervention was 5 +/- 2.11 and 14 +/- 3.42, and it was 7 +/- 1.17 and 22 +/- 2.81 after intervention. Results showed that mothers' awareness and performance was increased significantly after intervention compared to before intervention, and pair-wise t test showed significant difference in this regard (p < 0.0001).& para;& para;Conclusion: Research results showed that focus discussion approach as a comprehensive approach and an effective and practical nursing intervention is able to increase mothers' awareness and performance regarding prevention of children's domestic accidents.