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Tympanic Thermometers Accuracy

The Diagnostic Accuracy and Precision of the Latest Generation Tympanic Thermometers in the Adult and Paediatric Population: Multicentre Cross-sectional Study

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06103604
Enrollment
1100
Registered
2023-10-27
Start date
2023-12-28
Completion date
2024-10-31
Last updated
2025-01-27

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Fever

Keywords

Thermometers, Sensitivity and Specificity, Hypothermia, Hyperthermia

Brief summary

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the measurement precision and accuracy of the third-generation tympanic thermometer in relation to the measurement modalities considered gold standard. The evaluation of the instrument will be conducted in relation to the different calibration times of the tympanic thermometer, the level of re-training of healthcare personnel in the use of the instrument and the adult and paediatric population subjected to the measurement. Finally, the diagnostic capacity of the instrument in correctly identifying states of hypothermia and febrile elevations will be assessed.

Detailed description

The temperature measurement will be taken on each patient enrolled at a single time by the caregiver for that patient. As the measurements do not depend on which side they are taken, the most convenient side will be chosen. Each patient will only be included once The research nurse will record the core temperature from the monitor on the CRF and, within the next 5 minutes, take the peripheral temperature with the tympanic thermometer three times in a row, recording all three values on the CRF. Subsequently a second operator will always take the temperature 3 times within 5 minutes of the gold standard measurement. The gold standard (reference tests), as indicated in the literature, can be either the thermometer inserted in the probe placed in the pulmonary artery, or the thermometer inserted in the bladder catheter or oesophageal probe, or directly a rectal thermometer. Only the first tympanic measurement will then be used to assess accuracy against the gold standard. The other measurements above will only be evaluated for inter and intra reliability. The unit under study is therefore the individual patient at a precise point in time

Interventions

DIAGNOSTIC_TESTlatest generation tympanic thermometer

The patient whose core temperature is monitored during hospitalisation has his temperature at tympanic level taken once during the stay. The research nurse will record the core temperature from the monitor on the CRF and, within the next 5 minutes, take the peripheral temperature with the tympanic thermometer three times in a row, recording all three values on the CRF. Subsequently a second operator will always take the temperature 3 times within 5 minutes of the gold standard measurement. Only the first tympanic measurement will then be used to assess accuracy against the gold standard.

Sponsors

Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
CROSS_SECTIONAL

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
4 Months to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Paediatric patients over the age of 4 months * adults admitted to intensive care and resuscitation * undergoing surgery who by current practice undergo invasive core temperature measurement

Exclusion criteria

* Patients with bilateral auricular inflammatory problems, * patients who will not use the gold standard for clinical reasons, * patients or legal guardians who do not consent to participate in the study.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Measure of AgreementThe temperature measurement will be taken on each patient enrolled up to 2 weeksMeasure of Agreement between the thermometer and the gold standard to be assessed by the Bland and Altman method.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
accuracyThe temperature measurement will be taken on each patient enrolled up to 2 weekssensitivity, specificity, predictive values, likelihood ratios

Countries

Italy

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026