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Temperature measurements are performed at the groin, oral, and rectal sites using two devices to determine which is most accurate.
ABSTRACT
Many studies compare temperature sites and equipment, but none have examined the validity of groin temperatures in older adults, or compared Galinstan(TM) -in-glass with mercury-in-glass thermometer products. The purpose of this pilot study was to collect and analyze data related to human body temperature monitoring in adults 50 and older. Groin temperature (Tg) was compared with simultaneous oral (To) and rectal (Tr) temperature measures for each participant using two thermometer types (i.e., mercury-in-glass and Galinstan-in-glass). A high degree of correlation was found among sites and devices. Further study will be needed to include a larger, more diverse study population for the Galinstan non-mercury thermometer devices. Further study will also be needed to assess various temperature assessment sites for a larger, more diverse study population (e.g., age, gender, race, disease state).
For older adults, temperature is one of the most recognized and frequently monitored physiologic responses to disease and illness. The first of the four traditional "vital signs," human body temperature represents a balance of heat loss and gain. Many older adults have multiple morbidities, chroniciries, and receive multiple medications. Therefore, physical changes combined with numerous predisposing drugs may contribute to temperature regulation disorders (Dharmarajan, Bullecer, & Gorich,2001).
Fever is the presenting sign for influenza-like illness. According to epidemiologists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2001), influenza-related pneumonia most often affects individuals younger than 5 and older than 64. "Influenza associated pneumonia ... can occur in over 20% of influenzainfected elderly," (p. 985). Older adults with contracted terrorist organisms and infectious diseases such as Anthrax, bubonic plague, tularemia, and small pox present with fevers. Consequently, all geriatric services, including acute, longterm, and home care; and emergency medical services, and hazardous materials units need reliable, valid, readily available body temperature assessment devices. Unfortunately, some electronic temperature devices may be unavailable, inadequate, and inappropriate for assessing older adults' temperature.
Non-electronic, metal-in-glass thermometers used and trusted by health care professionals for more than a century, may be more familiar, accessible, and affordable to older adults than electronic or digital devices. These low-tech thermometers present no power source competence concerns. With electronic devices, batteries run...