The superiority of rectal thermometry to oral thermometry with regard to accuracy

Jensen, Bruno Nyholm; Jeppesen, Liselotte Juhl; Mortensen, Birthe Brøndum; Kjærgaard, Benedict; Andreasen, Helle; Glavind, Karin

doi:10.1046/j.1365-2648.1994.20040660.x

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Although the complex relationship between peripheral and central measures of temperature is beyond the scope of the current findings, future work may benefit from directly investigating core temperature (e.g. via rectal methods, the most accurate method to assess core temperature [ 43 ]) and peripheral measures during social experiences to better understand the association between core and peripheral measures.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Pilot Study Examining Physical and Social Warmth: Higher (Non-Febrile) Oral Temperature Is Associated with Greater Feelings of Social Connection

et al. 2016

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An emerging literature suggests that experiences of physical warmth contribute to social warmth—the experience of feeling connected to others. Thus, thermoregulatory systems, which help maintain our relatively warm internal body temperatures, may also support feelings of social connection. However, the association between internal body temperature and feelings of connection has not been examined. Furthermore, the origins of the link between physical and social warmth, via learning during early experiences with a caregiver or via innate, co-evolved mechanisms, remain unclear. The current study examined the relationship between oral temperature and feelings of social connection as well as whether early caregiver experiences moderated this relationship. Extending the existing literature, higher oral temperature readings were associated with greater feelings of social connection. Moreover, early caregiver experiences did not moderate this association, suggesting that the physical-social warmth overlap may not be altered by early social experience. Results provide additional support for the link between experiences of physical warmth and social warmth and add to existing theories that highlight social connection as a basic need on its own.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Pilot Study Examining Physical and Social Warmth: Higher (Non-Febrile) Oral Temperature Is Associated with Greater Feelings of Social Connection

et al. 2016

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“…There are several common modes of temperature measurement in the ED setting: axillary, oral, tympanic, and rectal. Although rectal temperature measurements are generally accepted as the most practical estimation of core temperature, 1–3 the need for privacy and patient discomfort/embarrassment limit its use as a first-line measurement. Axillary readings do not adequately approximate core readings and are not recommended for general screening.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Oral and Tympanic Membrane Temperatures are Inaccurate to Identify Fever in Emergency Department Adults

Barnett¹,

Nunberg²,

Tai³

et al. 2011

WestJEM

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Introduction Identifying fever can influence management of the emergency department (ED) patient, including diagnostic testing, treatment, and disposition. We set out to determine how well oral and tympanic membrane (TM) temperatures compared with rectal measurements.MethodsA convenience sample of consecutively adult ED patients had oral, TM, and rectal temperatures performed within several minutes of each other. Descriptive statistics, Bland–Altman agreement matrices with 95% confidence interval (CI), and measures of test performance, including sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and interval likelihood ratios were performed.ResultsA total of 457 patients were enrolled with an average age of 64 years (standard deviation: 19 years). Mean temperatures were: oral (98.3°F), TM (99.6°F), and rectal (99.4°F). The mean difference in rectal and oral temperatures was 1.1°F, although there was considerable lack of agreement between oral and rectal temperatures, with the oral temperature as much as 2.91°F lower or 0.74°F higher than the rectal measurement (95% CI). Although the difference in mean temperature between right TM and rectal temperature was only 0.22°F, the right TM was lower than rectal by up to 1.61°F or greater by up to 2.05°F (95% CI). Test performance varied as the positive predictive value of the oral temperature was 97% and for tympanic temperature was 55% (relative to a rectal temperature of 100.4°F or higher). Comparative findings differed even at temperatures considered in the normal range; among patients with an oral temperature of 98.0 to 98.9, 38% (25/65) were found to have a rectal temperature of 100.4 or higher, while among patients with a TM of 98.0 to 98.9, only 7% (10/134) were found to have a rectal temperature of 100.4 or higher.ConclusionThe oral and tympanic temperature readings are not equivalent to rectal thermometry readings. Oral thermometry frequently underestimates the temperature relative to rectal readings, and TM values can either under- or overestimate the rectal temperature. The clinician needs to be aware of the varying relationship between oral, TM, and rectal temperatures when interpreting readings.

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“…Small sample sizes limit the use of inferential statistics and decrease the external validity or generalizability of the findings. All studies included proposed data analysis techniques; however, the use of power analysis to determine sample size, required when inferential statistics are used, was not reported by any of the investigators, a frequent failing of studies relating to temperature measurement 101 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring Bladder Temperatures in the OR

Fallis

2002

AORN Journal

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Temperature monitoring via the urinary bladder has become common in the OR, often replacing monitoring at the rectal site. A systematic, integrated review and synthesis of the literature was undertaken to assess the validity of using the urinary bladder as a site for temperature measurement in the OR. During steady thermal states, bladder temperature performed well, providing temperatures similar to those of core sites. In contrast, poor performance was demonstrated during rapid thermal changes, such as during the rapid cooling and rewarming phases of cardiopulmonary bypass. At such times, a significant lag in response rate at the bladder site was noted by multiple investigators. This delayed responsiveness during thermally dynamic states, however, may provide information regarding the adequacy of rewarming during bypass at sites intermediate between the core and periphery. Limited research indicates that urinary bladder temperature may be influenced by urine flow rate, and additional research is required in this area. The cost effectiveness of this method of temperature measurement requires investigation as well.

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The superiority of rectal thermometry to oral thermometry with regard to accuracy

Cited by 8 publications

References 8 publications

A Pilot Study Examining Physical and Social Warmth: Higher (Non-Febrile) Oral Temperature Is Associated with Greater Feelings of Social Connection

A Pilot Study Examining Physical and Social Warmth: Higher (Non-Febrile) Oral Temperature Is Associated with Greater Feelings of Social Connection

Oral and Tympanic Membrane Temperatures are Inaccurate to Identify Fever in Emergency Department Adults

Monitoring Bladder Temperatures in the OR

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