Using low-tech thermometers to measure body temperatures in older adults. A pilot study

Many studies compare temperature sites and equipment, but none have examined the validity of groin temperatures in older adults, or compared Galinstan-in-glass with mercury-in-glass thermometer products. The purpose of this pilot study was to collect and analyze data related to human body temperature monitoring in adults 50 and older. Groin temperature (Tg) was compared with simultaneous oral (To) and rectal (Tr) temperature measures for each participant using two thermometer types (i.e., mercury-in-glass and Galinstan-in-glass). A high degree of correlation was found among sites and devices. Further study will be needed to include a larger, more diverse study population for the Galinstan non-mercury thermometer devices. Further study will also be needed to assess various temperature assessment sites for a larger, more diverse study population (e.g., age, gender, race, disease state).