Table.
Summary of included studies
| Authors | No of patients | Age range (mean) | Population | Calibration | Rectal device, placement time, and depth | Axilla device (placement time) | Readings taken | Intervention between readings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercury versus mercury thermometer | ||||||||
| Akinbami and Sowunmi 1991w1 | 104 | 0-48 hours | Neonates in nursery | No | Mercury read at stabilisation (>7 minutes), 2-3 cm | Mercury read at stabilisation (>7 minutes) | Concurrently | No |
| Bliss-Holtz 1989w2 | 120 | 12-48 hours | Infants on radiant warmers | Yes | Mercury read at stabilisation (3-5 minutes), 2.5 cm | Mercury read at stabilisation (1-7 minutes) | Sequentially | No |
| Eoff et al 1974w3 | 30 | 1-9 days (3.5 days) | Neonates in nursery | Not stated | Mercury read at 5 minutes, 1.5 cm | Mercury read at 5 minutes | Sequentially | No |
| Eoff and Joyce 1981w4 | 50 | 1-6 years | Children in hospital | Not stated | Mercury read at 3 minutes, depth not stated | Mercury read at 5 minutes | Sequentially | No |
| Haddock et al 1986w5 | 31 | 24-72 hours | Newborn infants | No | Mercury read at stabilisation (1-6 minutes), 2 cm | Mercury read at stabilisation (3-12 minutes) | Sequentially | No |
| Khan et al 1990w6 | 30 | 0-28 days (59 hours) | Neonates in nursery | No | Mercury read at stabilisation (1-5 minutes), 2 cm | Mercury read at stabilisation (1-5 minutes) | Concurrently | No |
| Kunnel et al 1988w7* | 99 | 1-4 days | Neonates in nursery | Yes | Mercury read at optimal temperature over 15 minutes, 2 cm | Mercury read at optimal temperature over 15 minutes | Concurrently | No |
| Mayfield et al 1984w8* | 99 | 1-10 days (4 days) | Newborn infants in nursery | Yes | Mercury read at stabilisation (1-10 minutes), 2 cm | Mercury read at stabilisation (2-10 minutes) | Concurrently | No |
| Morley et al 1992w9 | 937 | 0-6 months | Babies at home and in hospital (11% febrile) | Not stated | Mercury read at ⩾1 minute or at stabilisation, 3 cm | Mercury read at ⩾3 minutes | Not stated | Not stated |
| Schiffman 1982w10 | 46 | 1 day (3 hours and 43 minutes) | Neonates in nursery | Yes | Mercury (10 minutes), depth not stated | Mercury read at 10 minutes | Sequentially | No |
| Electronic versus electronic thermometer | ||||||||
| Barrus 1983w11 | 50 | 2-6 years | Children in hospital paediatric unit | Yes | Electronic, mode and depth not stated | Electronic, mode not stated | Sequentially | No |
| Cusson et al 1997w12* | 63 | >1 hour | Newborn infants in nursery (22% in incubators, 32% on radiant warmers) | Yes | Electronic, predictive mode, 2.5 cm | Electronic, predictive mode | Sequentially | No |
| Eoff et al 1974w3 | 30 | 1-9 days (3.5 days) | Neonates in nursery | Not stated | Electronic telethermometer, depth not stated (5 minutes) | Electronic telethermometer, read at 5 minutes | Sequentially | No |
| Jones et al 1993w13 | 573 (sick) and 203 (healthy) | <5 years in both groups | Sick children in outpatient clinic (31% febrile) and healthy children at home | Not stated in either study | In both groups: electronic, mode not stated, 2.3 cm | In both groups: electronic, mode not stated | Concurrently in both groups | No in both groups |
| Martyn et al 1988w14* | 70 | 1-5 years (33.2 months) | Well children in clinic (31% febrile) | Yes | Electronic, mode and depth not stated | Electronic, mode not stated | Sequentially | No |
| Muma et al 1991w15 | 224 | <3 years (12.4 months) | Infants and children in casualty department (39% febrile) | Yes | Electronic, mode and depth not stated | Electronic, mode not stated | Sequentially | Not stated |
| Ogren 1990w16 | 61 | 0-14 years, most <3 years | Children in casualty department (61% febrile) | No | Electronic read at beep, mode and depth not stated | Electronic read at beep, mode not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Shann and Mackenzie 1996w17 | 100 | 0-14 years | Children in hospital | Yes | Electronic read at one minute, mode not stated, 2, 3, or 4 cm (according to age) | Electronic read at one minute, mode not stated | Sequentially | No |
| Weisse et al 1991w18 | 311 | 0-48 months | Children in inpatient and outpatient settings (21% febrile) | Yes | Electronic read at beep, mode not stated, 2-3 cm | Electronic read at beep, mode not stated | Sequentially | Not stated |
*
Studies in which standard deviation of differences in temperature was estimated.