Evaluation of the Application of Wireless Digital Temperature Patches in Pediatric Care: A Pilot Study

Background: The real-time monitoring and wireless transmission of patient temperature help healthcare providers and caregivers better observe and manage temperature changes in pediatric patients, which aids in clinical decisionmaking. However, the feasibility of using wireless digital temperature patches to continuously monitor the temperature of patients in clinical practice remains unclear. Purpose: This pilot study was designed to evaluate the feasibility and benefits of using wireless digital temperature patches for continuous temperature monitoring in clinical pediatric care. Methods: Convenience sampling was used to select qualified pediatric patients, their families, and healthcare professionals at a medical center in southern Taiwan. Quanta Open Care AI (QOCA) disposable Bluetooth temperature patches were used to facilitate continuous temperature monitoring, and nurses continued to conduct routine tympanic temperature measurements. Data were collected on temperature changes during hospitalization. Upon patient discharge or the end of study participation, family members and healthcare professionals completed a satisfaction questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for the data analysis. Results: Twenty-five pediatric patients and 12 healthcare providers were enrolled, and 408 valid tympanic temperature measurements were collected. The findings indicate the temperature patches as feasible (M = 4.7, SD = 0.6) and practical (M = 4.6, SD = 0.7), with high levels of satisfaction among caregivers. T he nurses reported that using the temperature patches could reduce the frequency of temperature measurements and minimize the disturbances to sleep of both patients and their families. The intraclass correlation between temperature patch readings and tympanic temperature measurements was 0.63, revealing a statistically significant difference between the two measurement methods (t = -9.330, p <.001). Redness and itching during QOCA thermometer patch use were observed in one participating patient only. No other adverse events were found. Conclusions/ Implications for Practice: Wireless digital temperature patches have the potential to serve as a valuable adjunct tool for temperature monitoring. They reduce the workload of nurses and enhance comfort in hospitalized pediatric patients and their families. Based on the findings of this study, QOCA thermometer patches may be continuously used in hospital settings. Future research should be conducted to further refine temperature patch features to better meet the needs of pediatric patients and improve their clinical applicability.