Which thermometry is more comfortable for children

Temperature measurement procedure being a routine task in inpatient hospital setting takes up a significant proportion of the nurse’s time. A quick measurement with least disturbance would be better tolerated. To assess and compare the comfort of temperature measured by tympanic membrane thermometry and temporal artery thermometry with reference to the axillary thermometry among children. Temperature of 300 children between the age group of 2-6 years was assessed and compared by using digital axillary thermometer(Omron MC-246), infra red tympanic membrane thermometry (infinity check FDIR-V1) and infra red temporal artery thermometry (infinity check FDIR-V1). More than half (53%) of children were in age group of 4-6 years and majority (69%) of the children were male. The mean comfort experienced during the use of temporal artery thermometry with standard deviation (41.5 + 9.0) was more closer to the axillary thermometry. Temporal artery thermometry is better option for children as compared with digital tympanic membrane thermometry with reference to digital Axillary thermometry.

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