[Methods of first-choice for clinical temperature measurement in Danish hospital wards].
BACKGROUND
The aim was to investigate the methods of first-choice for clinical temperature measurement in Danish hospital wards.


METHODS
A questionnaire study involving 444 Danish hospital wards specialised in internal medicine, orthopaedic surgery, abdominal surgery or paediatrics.


RESULTS
348 hospital wards (78%) responded to the questionnaire. Ear and rectal temperature measurement were the most frequent methods of first-choice in Danish hospital wards (44% and 50%, respectively). There was a statistically significant difference in the method of first-choice between specialties and between the regions of Denmark. Regardless of specialty and region both methods were frequently used as first-choice.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results reflect a lack of consensus on the method of first-choice in daily clinical assessment of temperature in Danish hospital wards.
Glostrup Hospital, Forskningscenter for Forebyggelse og Sundhed-Region Hovedstaden, Glostrup. rasmus.smith@gmail.com
Rasmus
R
Smith
Peter Michael
PM
Wøldike
Allan
A
Linneberg
D001365:Axilla; D001831:Body Temperature; D004423:Ear; D006801:Humans; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012007:Rectum; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013817:Thermography; D013821:Thermometers