WIP 68 - Testing a Visual Thermometer in Newborns and Young Infants

Poster Number: WIP 68
Publication Number: WIP 68.984

Background: Severe neonatal jaundice is a major cause of death and disability among newborns in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Filtered sunlight phototherapy (FSPT) was tested and shown to be safe and efficacious for treatment of jaundice where electric-powered phototherapy is unavailable, however, it requires hourly temperature monitoring to detect hyper/hypothermia. In LMICs, understaffed nurseries, inadequate thermometers, and/or difficulty reading thermometers make measuring temperature challenging for mother’s and healthcare providers (HCP). This leads to suboptimal temperature management and points to an urgent need for a temperature monitoring device that is simple to use and read.
The purpose of this study is to determine the accuracy and usability of a Liquid Crystal Thermometer Device (LCTD) by caregivers in measuring temperature of infants.

Objective: (i)Determine the accuracy of the LCTD as compared to standard of care (SOC) temperature measurements in infants 0-6 months of age
(ii)Determine parent/legal guardian and nurse/healthcare provider's ability to use and interpret LCTD readings

Design/Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of infants at two study sites. A sample size of 120 infants was estimated assuming device accuracy of 95% with a 3% margin of error. We compared initial SOC temperatures obtained by the HCP using a digital thermometer with 4 LCTDs & axillary temperature readings obtained by research assistants and caregivers.
Infants 0-6 months presenting to University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s ED, and the Newborn Nursery/NICU at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Nigeria were recruited. We excluded infants undergoing active resuscitation, infants whose parents declined enrollment, and parents who did not speak English.
UMN & LUTH IRB’s approved the study.
Enrollment closed October 2023. Data analysis is pending. Accuracy will be summarized within each of the five temperature categories. Exploratory analyses will be conducted to investigate whether the accuracy varies by temperature category, by nurse, or by site of LCTD placement.