Use of thermometers in general practice.

Abstract

To identify the attitudes of general practitioners towards the use of thermometers in general practice. Postal questionnaire survey. All general practitioners in the catchment area of Frimley Park Hospital, Surrey. 145 general practitioners. Answers to questions covering a variety of aspects concerning the use of thermometers in general practice. 116 (80%) doctors replied. Seven doctors did not have any method of taking a patient's temperature; up to 12 more doctors did not use their thermometers and 56 doctors used them infrequently, less than once a fortnight. Mercury glass thermometers were most commonly used (80 doctors; 69%), but only 8% of doctors used them correctly. Six doctors failed to clean their thermometers between patients. The study failed to identify the roles of axillary and rectal temperature readings. There is a wide variation in attitudes towards the use of thermometers in general practice.