Fred Shaffer, Ph'D', Susan Jacobsmeyer, Lynn Giddings, Steven Sasfai, Bridget Luebbering, and Meliss

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VALIDATION OF AN INFRARED TEMPERATURE SCANNING
PROCEDURE FOR THE HANDS

• Fred Shaffer, Ph.D., Susan Jacobsmeyer, Lynn
  Giddings, Steven Sasfai, Bridget Luebbering, and
  Melissa Schlereth  Truman State University

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Purpose

• This study measured the concurrent validity of
  infrared temperature scanning by simultaneously
  measuring temperature at the web dorsum of each
  hand using an infrared thermometer and a
  clinical-grade thermistor

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Purpose

• We assessed the reliability of infrared
  temperature readings at 6 sites on each hand by
  taking two readings, 0.5-s apart
• We also examined whether order effects would
  preclude the direct comparison of temperatures
  obtained from different sites on the same hand

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Participants

• Seventy-one undergraduate students (16 men and
  55 women) volunteered for academic credit
• Their ages ranged from 18 to 23 years

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Apparatus

• A J J I-330 Physiological Monitoring System
  measured skin temperature using a T-601 module
  and TS-600 thermistor (1-s time constant) placed
  over the web dorsum of each hand

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Apparatus

• Two Raytek MT4 Minitemp infrared thermometers,
  with a 0.5-s response time and 2 oC accuracy,
  were used for infrared temperature scanning of
  six sites on each hand

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Raytek MT4
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Procedure

• Participants were stabilized for 10 min in a 23.9
  oC room
• They were monitored while sitting upright with
  their eyes open and hands resting on their knees

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Procedure

• Two researchers simultaneously scanned
  corresponding sites on the dorsal surface of each
  hand (the left and right index fingers) using two
  infrared thermometers
• Scanning was guided by the Raytek MT4s laser
  sighting

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Procedure

• Each subject was randomly assigned to one
• of two scanning orders to control order effects
• the web dorsum and then digits 1-5
• digits 5-1 and then the web dorsum
• Infrared scanning of both hands took 10-s.

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Results Concurrent Validity

• Web dorsum temperatures obtained using infrared
  scanning and thermistors were highly correlated
  for both the left and right hands
• The correlations were r (70) .84, p .0001
  and r (70) .78, p .0001, respectively

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Results Concurrent Validity
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Results Concurrent Validity
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Results Reliability

• Two infrared temperature measurements from the
  same sites, taken 0.5-s apart, were highly
  reliable
• Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficients
  ranged from r (70) .95, p .0001 to r (70)
  .99, p .0001

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Results Order Effects

• A General Linear Model procedure for repeated
  measures showed that scanning sequence did not
  affect the 24 infrared temperatures
• The absence of order effects means that
  clinicians may directly compare hand temperatures
  obtained from different sites

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Discussion

• The infrared temperature scanning procedure used
  in this study achieved satisfactory concurrent
  validity and test-retest reliability
• Temperatures obtained from multiple locations on
  the same hand may be directly compared

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Discussion

• An infrared thermometer can supplement thermistor
  measurements during assessment by mapping the
  distribution of skin temperatures across both
  hands

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Discussion

• This information could aid clinicians in
• selecting sites for thermistor placement
• evaluating patient response stereotypies
• monitoring sites that should not be touched by
  a thermistor due to disease or injury

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Discussion

• An infrared thermometer can also provide
  invaluable information during temperature
  training by measuring the degree to which
  vasodilation has generalized across the digits of
  trained and untrained hands

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Discussion

• We recommend that when clinicians perform
  psychophysiological profiles and utilize
  temperature biofeedback, they incorporate an
  infrared thermometer in their practice

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Future Research

• We recommend that future researchers replicate
  our findings with clinical populations,
  especially those who are candidates for
  temperature biofeedback

Site r df p Left hand Web dorsum .97 70 .0
001 First digit .96 70 .0001 Second digit .9
6 70 .0001 Third digit .97 70 .0001 Fourth
digit .95 70 .0001 Fifth digit .95 70 .0001
Right hand Web dorsum .98 70 .0001 First
digit .99 70 .0001 Second digit .98 70 .000
1 Third digit .98 70 .0001 Fourth digit .98
70 .0001 Fifth digit .97 70 .0001
Site r df p Left hand Web dorsum .97 70 .0
001 First digit .96 70 .0001 Second digit .9
6 70 .0001 Third digit .97 70 .0001 Fourth
digit .95 70 .0001 Fifth digit .95 70 .0001
Right hand Web dorsum .98 70 .0001 First
digit .99 70 .0001 Second digit .98 70 .000
1 Third digit .98 70 .0001 Fourth digit .98
70 .0001 Fifth digit .97 70 .0001
Site r df p Left hand Web dorsum .97 70 .0
001 First digit .96 70 .0001 Second digit .9
6 70 .0001 Third digit .97 70 .0001 Fourth
digit .95 70 .0001 Fifth digit .95 70 .0001
Right hand Web dorsum .98 70 .0001 First
digit .99 70 .0001 Second digit .98 70 .000
1 Third digit .98 70 .0001 Fourth digit .98
70 .0001 Fifth digit .97 70 .0001
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Future Research

• We encourage researchers to investigate
• whether infrared thermometer values may be
  compared across sites on different hands
• the concurrent validity and reliability of
  infrared scanning of the feet

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The Truman State University Research Team