TempWatchPeer-Reviewed PublicationRandomised Controlled Trial
Decreasing Hypothermia-Related Escalation of Care in Newborn Infants Using the BEMPU TempWatch: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Year
2021
Location
🇦🇺 Melbourne, Australia
Sample Size
75 newborns (RCT, stopped early)
Investigators
Donna Lei, Kenneth Tan, Atul Malhotra
Institutions
Monash University · Monash Children's Hospital · Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne
Published In
Children
Background & Methods
A randomized controlled trial at Monash Children's Hospital, Melbourne, to determine whether continuous temperature monitoring with the BEMPU TempWatch could reduce hypothermia-related escalation of care in newborn infants. 75 newborns were randomized to TempWatch (n=38) or standard care (n=37). The trial was stopped early when the primary endpoint (escalation of care) was lower than the anticipated rate in both groups. Pre-specified secondary analysis of breastfeeding outcomes was conducted.
Key Results
| Outcome / Metric | BEMPU Group | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| Breastfeeding at discharge (relative risk, TempWatch vs control) | RR 1.83 (favours TempWatch) | 0.02 |
- 1The trial was stopped early due to a lower-than-anticipated rate of hypothermia-related escalation of care in the study population.
- 2A significant secondary finding: infants in the TempWatch group were 1.83 times more likely to be breastfeeding at discharge (p=0.02).
- 3The breastfeeding benefit may reflect increased maternal engagement and skin-to-skin contact prompted by TempWatch alerts.
- 4No safety concerns were identified with the device.
Why This Matters
This is the only RCT of TempWatch conducted in a high-income country (Australia), providing evidence of benefit in a well-resourced NICU setting. The unexpected breastfeeding benefit suggests that the device's primary value extends beyond temperature management to fostering maternal-infant bonding behaviors.
How to Cite
Lei D, Tan K, Malhotra A. Decreasing hypothermia-related escalation of care in newborn infants using the BEMPU TempWatch: a randomised controlled trial. Children. 2021;8(12):1068.
Related Studies
TempWatch
Role of Hypothermia Detecting Device during Transitional Adaptation of Healthy Full-Term Infant
India · 2021
TempWatch
The Role of a Neonatal Hypothermia Alert Device in Promoting Weight Gain in Low-Birth-Weight Infants
India · 2020
TempWatch
Comparison between Temperature Watch and Mercury Thermometer in Monitoring Temperature of Low-Birth-Weight Newborns at Kangaroo Mother Ward, Chandaka Medical College, Larkana
Pakistan · 2022