Infrared non-contact forehead skin thermometer: Is it reliable for the measurement of children’s fever? – a systematic review

Abstract

Objective: In this systematic review, it was aimed to take a glance at the studies in which non-contact infrared forehead thermometer measurements were compared to other measurement techniques. Method: In order to access the studies on the issue, Pubmed, Ulakbim, Turkish Medline, National Thesis Scanning Database and the archives of 13 Nursing journals published either written or online were used. Results: The studies showed that the sensitivity of infrared non-contact forehead thermometer was “high” and its specificity was “low”. In 37.5% of the studies, it was revealed that the most reliable method of measuring fever was rectal measurement, and infrared non-contact forehead thermometer measurement could only be used as an alternative way when rectal measurement could not be performed. In addition; according to 12.5% of studies, infrared non-contact thermometer measurement technique should never be used. In 31.2% of the studies, it was shown that a high correlation 0.74 - 0.91 was determined between the rectal thermometer results and the results of infrared non-contact forehead thermometer, and infrared non-contact thermometer could safely be used in children. Conclusion: Even though the data on efficiency of infrared non-contact forehead thermometer measurements in children are rather limited, the study results set forth that it is not appropriate to use that technique in children between 0-3 months and in intensive care units. However, it is stated that infrared non-contact forehead thermometer is an easy to use technique at home owing to its easy evaluation and practicality

Keywords

• Child,fever,thermometer

İnfrared temassız alın termometresi: çocukların ateş ölçümünde güvenilir bir yöntem mi? – sistematik derleme

Abstract

Amaç: Bu sistematik derlemede, son yıllarda çocuklarda yaygın olarak kullanılmaya başlanan infrared temassız alın termometresi ölçümlerinin, diğer ölçüm yöntemleri ile karşılaştırıldığı araştırmaların gözden geçirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Yöntem: Konu ile ilgili araştırmalara ulaşmak için PubMed, Ulakbim, Türk Medline, Ulusal Tez Tarama veri tabanı ve ülkemizde düzenli olarak yayınlanan, editörlü ve çevrimiçi olarak ulaşılabilen 13 hemşirelik dergisinin arşivleri kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Araştırmalar, infrared temassız alın termometresinin duyarlılığının “yüksek”, özgüllüğünün “düşük” olduğunu göstermektedir. İncelenen araştırmaların %37,5’i çocukların ateş ölçümlerinde en güvenilir yöntemin rektal ölçümler olduğu, infrared temassız alın termometresinin, rektal ölçüm yapılamadığı durumlarda ancak alternatif olarak kullanılabileceği, %12,5’i ise bu yöntemin kullanılmaması gerektiğini ortaya koymaktadır. Araştırmaların %31,2’sinde rektal termometre ve infrared temassız alın termometre ölçüm sonuçları arasında korelasyon düzeyinin yüksek olduğu 0,74-0,91 saptanmış olup, infrared temassız alın termometresinin çocuklarda güvenle kullanılabileceği gösterilmektedir. Sonuç: Çocuklarda, infrared temassız alın termometresi ölçümlerinin etkililiğini ortaya koyma konusunda verilerin oldukça sınırlı olmasına rağmen, araştırma sonuçları, 0-3 ay arası çocuklarda ve yoğun bakım kliniklerinde infrared temassız alın termometresinin kullanılmasının uygun olmadığını göstermektedir. Bunun yanında, ev ortamında çocuğun ateşinin değerlendirilmesi ve hızlı kullanımından dolayı da taramalarda kullanılabileceği belirtilmektedir

Keywords

• Çocuk,ateş,termometre

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