Comparison of Infrared Thermometer with Digital Thermometer in Neonates During Delivery Room Care

Abstract

Objective To compare an infrared thermometer (IRT) at the forehead with a Digital thermometer (DT) at the axillary site in neonates in the delivery room. Methods Temperature was assessed simultaneously in 65 neonates born at ≥34 weeks in the delivery room with IRT at the forehead site and DT at the axillary site at 1 and 5 min of age. Immediately after delayed cord clamping, skin-to-skin contact (SSC) was given for vaginal-born neonates, and a radiant warmer was used for cesarean-born neonates. Results In a total of 130 paired measurements, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) between the IRT and the DT was good, ICC = 0.859, P < 0.001; the bias (SD) was –0.16(0.42)°C in Bland-Altman analysis. The correlation between IRT and DT during SSC was ICC = 0.881, P < .001, and the bias (SD) was –0.14(0.33)°C; and for neonates cared under radiant warmer, the ICC was 0.846, P < .001 with bias (SD) of –0.17(0.47)°C. Conclusion Temperature assessed by IRT at the forehead site shows good reliability with DT at the axillary site in neonates for thermal management in the delivery room.