The Analysis on Diagnostic Accuracy of Tympanic Membrane and Forehead Temperature in Various Environments

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Hyun-Jung Kim, Dahye Park, Jin-Hwa Kim

Abstract

Background/Objectives: This study is to confirm the diagnostic accuracy of tympanic membrane and forehead temperature in various environments.


Methods/Statistical analysis: The subjects were 155 people who visited two clinics for treatment, and the accuracy of forehead and tympanic membrane temperature was confirmed in pre-hospital and controlled-hospital conditions where temperature and humidity are not controlled. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient, linear regression, and Bland-Altman plot operated by SPSS 25.0.


Findings: There was the significant difference statistically between tympanic membrane temperature and forehead one in pre-hospital situation (t=3.34, p=.001), and hospital situation (t=2.71, p=.007).  In ROC analysis, the cut-off between pre-hospital situation and hospital condition was 37.5℃. While sensitivity being 100.0%, specificity 97.9%, positive predictive value 80.0%, and negative predictive value 100% in pre-hospital conditions, sensitivity was 100%, specificity 99.3%, positive predictive value 83.0%, negative predictive value 92.3% in hospital situations.


Improvements/Applications: Medical practitioners such as 119 paramedics who must measure body temperature in various environments need to consider measuring forehead temperature to prevent the infection of the subject, and should provide the guidelines according to thermometers and measurement sites.

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