TY - JOUR
T1 - Are temporal artery temperatures accurate enough to replace rectal temperature measurement in pediatric ED patients?
AU - Reynolds, Marcia
AU - Bonham, Laura
AU - Gueck, Margaret
AU - Hammond, Katherine
AU - Lowery, Jessica
AU - Redel, Cheryll
AU - Rodriguez, Christine
AU - Smith, Suzanne
AU - Stanton, Anne
AU - Sukosd, Stephanie
AU - Craft, Marla
PY - 2014/1
Y1 - 2014/1
N2 - Objective: This study examined the accuracy of temporal artery and axillary temperatures compared with rectal temperatures in pediatric ED patients younger than 4 years. Methods: A method-comparison study design was used to examine the agreement between a temporal artery or axillary thermometer and a nondisposable, rectal electronic thermometer, which is the clinical reference standard for temperature measurement in children. Temperatures were taken with each device in a convenience sample of stable, pediatric ED patients who were younger than 4 years. Bias and precision were calculated to quantify the differences between the 2 devices, as well as the percentage of temporal artery and axillary temperatures that were >±. 1.0°C and >±1.5°C higher or lower than the rectal temperature. Results: A total of 52 pediatric ED patients were studied over a 10-month period. Bias and precision for the temporal artery and axillary devices were -0.46°C ± 0.50°C and -0.93°C ± 0.49°C, respectively. The percentage of temporal artery and axillary temperatures that were >±. 1.0°C and/or >±. 1.5°C above or below the clinical reference temperature were 15% and 6%, respectively, for the temporal artery thermometer and 39% and 14%, respectively, for the axillary thermometer. Discussion: Bias and precision values for the temporal artery, but not the axillary temperature, were within the acceptable range set by experts to use as a noninvasive substitute for core body temperature measurements. If properly used by ED staff, temporal artery thermometers could be used to obtain temperature in pediatric patients younger than 4 years, thus avoiding physical and psychological discomfort for the child and parent associated with obtaining rectal thermometers.
AB - Objective: This study examined the accuracy of temporal artery and axillary temperatures compared with rectal temperatures in pediatric ED patients younger than 4 years. Methods: A method-comparison study design was used to examine the agreement between a temporal artery or axillary thermometer and a nondisposable, rectal electronic thermometer, which is the clinical reference standard for temperature measurement in children. Temperatures were taken with each device in a convenience sample of stable, pediatric ED patients who were younger than 4 years. Bias and precision were calculated to quantify the differences between the 2 devices, as well as the percentage of temporal artery and axillary temperatures that were >±. 1.0°C and >±1.5°C higher or lower than the rectal temperature. Results: A total of 52 pediatric ED patients were studied over a 10-month period. Bias and precision for the temporal artery and axillary devices were -0.46°C ± 0.50°C and -0.93°C ± 0.49°C, respectively. The percentage of temporal artery and axillary temperatures that were >±. 1.0°C and/or >±. 1.5°C above or below the clinical reference temperature were 15% and 6%, respectively, for the temporal artery thermometer and 39% and 14%, respectively, for the axillary thermometer. Discussion: Bias and precision values for the temporal artery, but not the axillary temperature, were within the acceptable range set by experts to use as a noninvasive substitute for core body temperature measurements. If properly used by ED staff, temporal artery thermometers could be used to obtain temperature in pediatric patients younger than 4 years, thus avoiding physical and psychological discomfort for the child and parent associated with obtaining rectal thermometers.
KW - Axillary temperature
KW - Bias
KW - Forehead temperature
KW - Medical device
KW - Precision
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jen.2012.07.007
DO - 10.1016/j.jen.2012.07.007
M3 - Article
C2 - 23142099
AN - SCOPUS:84891373767
SN - 0099-1767
VL - 40
SP - 46
EP - 50
JO - Journal of Emergency Nursing
JF - Journal of Emergency Nursing
IS - 1
ER -