Title: Is Digital Thermometer is Equivalent to Mercury Thermometer- A Comparative Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Dr V. Murali Krishna, Dr Alimelu Maddireddi, Dr Chiliveru Anusha, Dr Rakesh Kotha
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v7i10.101
Abstract
Background: Glass mercury thermometers are historically the most acceptable standard methods of temperature measurement. However glass mercury thermometers has some disadvantages such as danger of breakage, potential harm and toxic vapour effects to health workers and the patients. Because of toxity of mercury &mercury based compounds, instruments are banned worldwide, digital thermometer replaced Mercury Thermometer and studies are conducted to understand the efficacy and correlate the recordings with Thermister.
Aims & Objectives: Evaluate the accuracy of thermometer readings in Newborn of various gestation and Birth weight. Determine the accuracy of temperature recordings by various thermometers and to correlate the efficacy of the results with the mercury Thermometer.
Methodology: Hospital based prospective, cohort study. Samples collected randomly by computer generated random numbers from 100 Neonates. Data were analyzed by Pearson coefficients, mean, standard deviation, and range using an SPSS statistical software.
Results: Of 100 Neonates in our study. Neonates in term age group is less than preterm age group. Males are more than females, Thermister correlates more with Mercury Thermometer than Digital Thermometer in all gestations and with various Birth weights. Digital Thermometer is less correlating with Mercury Thermometer and thermistor.
Keywords: Mercury Thermometer, Digital Thermometer, Thermistor, Neonate.
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