J Korean Acad Fundam Nurs.  1998 Mar;5(1):33-45.

Accuracy of Temperature Measurements, Nursing Time for Measuring Temperature and the Validity of Fever Detection

• Sohng KY
• Kang SS
• Hwang JS
• Kim MJ

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate what is the most accurate and quick temperature measurement among rectal, auxiliary and tympanic routes. The body temperatures of 86 preterm infants in incubators, a controlled environment, were measured at three different sites. The measurements were taken to examine the accuracy of the temperatures, proper nursing time for measuring the temperatures and the validity of fever detection. The results were as follows : 1. The mean temperature was significantly lower in the auxiliary site(36.71degrees C) and higher in the tympanic site(37.27degrees C) than in the rectal site(37.03degrees C). 2. The mean nursing time for measuring body temperature was significantly longer in the auxiliary site(171.65 seconds) and shorter in the tympanic site(17.70 seconds) than in the rectal site(83.33 seconds). 3. The nursing time for measuring body temperature included the time needed for preparation, measuring, as well as the post-measuring time. It was found that the time required to prepare for measuring the temperature of the rectal site was significantly longer than for other sites. In addition, the time needed to measure the temperature of the auxiliary site was significantly longer than in the other sites. Finally, the nursing time needed for measuring the auxiliary temperature(171.65 seconds) was the longest among the three sites whereas the nursing time for the tympanic site was the shortest(17.70 seconds). 4. Rectal temperature was significantly correlated to the tympanic(r=0.67) and auxiliary temperatures(r=0.69). Tympanic temperature was also significantly correlated to the auxiliary temperature(r=0.74). 5. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of tympanic temperatures for detecting fever were 1.00, 0.80, 0.24, and 1.00, respectively. Those for the auxiliary temperatures were 0.00, 0.99, 0.00, and 0.94, respectively. Thus the level of fever detection was lower in the auxiliary temperatures than in tympanic temperatures. The above findings indicate that the tympanic method of temperature measurement offers a useful alternative to conventional methods.

Keyword

Preterm infant; Temperature; Nursing time; Fever detection

MeSH Terms

Body Temperature
Environment, Controlled
Fever*
Humans
Incubators
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature
Nursing*
Sensitivity and Specificity