Study designs of evaluations included in the review
No restrictions on study design were stated; the initial search included primary research, literature reviews, narratives and letters or editorials.
Only primary research studies were included in the review, these were quasi-experimental (subject own control with consecutive measures or concurrent validity), correlational study (subject own control, with consecutive measures) or descriptive observational studies.
Specific interventions included in the review
Core temperature measurement in neonates, infants and children using mercury glass, electronic, disposable crystal, infrared tympanic thermometers or continuously monitored pulmonary artery measurement. Studies focusing on profound hypothermia (core body temperature below 35 degrees centigrade) and those concerned solely with continuous temperature measurement methods and devices were excluded.
Participants included in the review
Febrile and afebrile neonates mainly in hospital settings (post-natal ward, newborn nursery, well-baby nursery). Febrile and afebrile infants and children. The majority of studies included patients in hospital (paediatric in-patients, intensive care, emergency departments and oncology units. Also critical care and emergency departments), some were in paediatric out-patients, general paediatric practices or clinics.
Articles concerned with adults, newborn infants during the first four hours after birth, or premature infants under 36 weeks gestation were excluded, as were animal studies.
Outcomes assessed in the review
Core body temperature measurement.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The author does not state how the papers were selected for review, or how many of the reviewers performed the selection.