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Table 1 Temperature monitoring site/method used by paediatricians participating in the 2012 and 2015 surveys and type of thermometer recommended

From: Knowledge, attitudes and misconceptions of Italian healthcare professionals regarding fever management in children

 

2012 n (%; 95% CI) n = 300

2015 n (%; 95% CI) n = 562

P

Children < 1 year of age

 Axillary*

118 (39.3; 33.8–44.9)

283 (50.4; 46.2–54.5)

0.001

 Rectal

124 (41.3; 35.8–46.9)

192 (34.2; 30.2–38.1)

0.020

 Groin crease

38 (12.7; 8.9–16.4)

71 (12.6; 9.9–15.4)

0.980

 Oral

0 (0.0; 0.0–0.0)

1 (0.2; 0.0–0.5)

0.950

 Auricular

18 (6.1; 3.3–8.7)

7 (1.2; 0.3–2.2)

< 0.0001

 Forehead

2 (0.6; 0.0–1.6)

8 (1.4; 0.4–2.4)

< 0.0001

Children > 1 year of age

 Axillary*

242 (80.7; 76.2–85.1)

502 (89.3; 86.8–91.9)

0.0003

 Rectal

9 (3.0; 1.1–4.9)

20 (3.6; 2.0–5.1)

0.660

 Groin crease

15 (5.0; 2.5–7.5)

24 (4.3; 2.6–5.9)

0.630

 Oral

2 (0.7; 0.0–1.6)

1 (0.2; 0.0–0.5)

0.240

 Auricular

29 (9.6; 6.3–13.0)

6 (1.1; 0.2–1.9)

< 0.0001

 Forehead

3 (1.0; 0.0–2.1)

10 (1.8; 0.7–2.9)

0.370

Type of recommended thermometer

 Digital*

203 (67.7; 62.4–73.0)

385 (68.5; 64.7–72.3)

0.430

 Auricular

15 (5.0; 2.5–7.5)

9 (1.6; 0.6–2.6)

0.003

 Other**

32 (10.6; 7.2–14.2)

168 (29.8; 26.1–33.7)

< 0.0001

  1. Note: * right answer according to the Guidelines of the Italian Paediatric Society
  2. **mercury, skin infrared, plastic streap placed forehead, dummy-pacifier style thermometers