title: Tympanic or rectal temperature measurement? A cost-minimization analysis.
abstract: In a cost-minimization study, we compared tympanic and rectal body temperature measurement in inpatients in a department of internal medicine. At all measurement volumes in a sensitivity analysis, tympanic temperature measurement had markedly lower average cost than rectal measurement, indicating a large savings potential if the former technique is used.
authors.affiliation: Foundation for Health Services Research (HELTEF), Central Hospital of Akershus, Nordbyhagen, Norway.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stavem
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saxholm
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Erikssen
mesh_terms: D001831:Body Temperature; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D009664:Norway; D012007:Rectum; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013821:Thermometers / Q000191:economics*; D014432:Tympanic Membrane