응급 환자의 심부체온 측정시 고막체온과 액와체온의 비교

The Comparison of Tympanic and Axillary Temperature Measurement for Emergency Room Patients

Body temperature has been considered as one of the key assessment parameter for health status. Consequently accurate and prompt measurement of body temperature is necessary to asses the patient conditions came to emergency room(ER) for the identification of the seriousness of disease and proper care. The purpose of this study was undertaken to identify the usefulness and accuracy of tympanic temperature measurement(TTM) in comparison with conventional axillary measurement by electronic thermometer (ET). TTM is said to have the accuracy and prompt measurement. The usefulness of TTM was investigated to apply this system for ER patients. The subjects were 367 patients(133 children and 234 adult) came to ER at C university hospital in K city from August 15 to October 30, 2000. They were assigned to measure both the tympanic temperature by a tympanic thermometer(TT), the axillary temperature by an electronic thermometer(ET). Data obtained were analysed using SAS program. The results obtained were summarized as follows: 1. Mean temperature of the subjects was 36.79℃, 36.66℃, 36.62℃ by a MT, ET and TT respectively. In adult patients, the result of TTM was same as that by ET. 2. There were significant differences between the measurement by a MT and an ET(t=7.96 ， p=.000), and between the measurement by a MT and a TT(t=9.71 , p=.000). However, there were no statistically significant differences between the measurement by a TT and an ET(t=2.03, p=.051). 3. There were significant correlation between MT and ET(r=.91) ， MT and TT(r=.90), TT and ET(r=.88) respectively. 4. Mean measuring time was 7 min 13 sec, min 18 sec and just 12 seconds by MT, ET and TT respectively. 5. The level of participants satisfaction with a TT was significantly higher than by an ET(t=8.855 ， p =.000). In conclusion, TTM was satisfied with the participants due to the time-solving manners and accuracy. The present work suggested that TTM can be highly recommendable for ER patients in which nursing efficiency for caring patients is urgently needed. From saving the measurement time of body temperature in ER, improved quality of nursing service can be expected by an offer of direct nursing care.