無線數位體溫貼片在兒童醫療中的應用評估－－一項前驅研究

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

背景：無線數位體溫貼片可以持續監測體溫，更能掌握病童體溫之波動。然無線數位體溫貼片在臨床應用的可行性和實用性尚不明確。
目的：評估無線數位體溫貼片於臨床場域的可行性及效益。
方法：採前驅性研究，以方便取樣選取台灣南部某醫學中心的病童、其家屬及醫護人員為主要研究對象。本研究以QOCA（Quanta Open Care AI）拋棄式藍芽體溫貼片連續監測病童的體溫，護理師仍須依常規測量病童的耳溫做為處置介入依據。病童出院或停止參與研究時，由病童／家屬和醫護人員填寫滿意度問卷，並以描述性統計及推論性統計進行資料分析。
結果：本研究共招募25名病童及12位醫護人員，收集408筆有效體溫數據。體溫貼片具有可行性（M = 4.7, SD = 0.6）、實用性（M = 4.6, SD = 0.7）、及高滿意度。護理師反饋體溫貼片可減少體溫測量頻率，降低對病家睡眠的干擾。體溫貼片與耳溫測量值之組內相關係數為.63，且存在統計顯著差異（t = -9.330, p < .001）。僅一位病童在使用無線數位體溫貼片時出現皮膚發紅及搔癢情形，無其他不良事件。
結論／實務應用：無線數位體溫貼片可作為體溫監測的輔助設備之一，減少護理工作負擔，增進病童舒適度。未來研究應進一步優化產品，以符合使用需求及適用性。

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 decision-making. 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.