Table 1.

Comparison of results of temperatures measured by parents using a tympanic thermometer designed for home use, a nurse using the same thermometer, and the same nurse using a tympanic thermometer designed for hospital use

	Mean absolute difference (°C)	Range of absolute differences (°C)	% of time where absolute difference ≥ 0.5 °C
Parent versus nurse using home tympanic thermometer All children n = 60	0.44 ± 0.61	0.0 – 3.1	33%
Parent versus nurse using home tympanic thermometer Afebrile children n = 43	0.44 ± 0.65	0.0–3.1	35%
Parent versus nurse using home tympanic thermometer Febrile children n = 17	0.45 ± 0.51	0.10 – 1.9	29%
Nurse using home thermometer versus same nurse using hospital thermometer n = 60	0.24 ± 0.22	0.0 – 1.0	13%
Parent using home thermometer versus nurse using hospital thermometer N = 60	0.51± 0.63	0.0 – 3.4	72%