Student Research Symposium Program Portal: Submission #144

Abstract Unintended intraoperative hypothermia is a frequent anesthesia-related complication associated with delayed drug metabolism, coagulopathy, and increased surgical site infections. Accurate core temperature monitoring is essential for prevention, yet probe selection significantly influences measurement reliability. Evidence supports esophageal temperature probes as a more accurate reflection of core body temperature compared to nasopharyngeal probes, offering earlier detection of hypothermia and improved thermal management. This quality improvement project aimed to evaluate whether an educational intervention promoting the use of esophageal temperature probes among anesthesia providers would reduce the incidence of intraoperative hypothermia in adult surgical patients receiving general anesthesia. Conducted at a large community hospital in northeast Florida, the initiative included a pre- and post-intervention survey, an educational handout summarizing American Society of Anesthesiologists temperature monitoring standards, laminated operating room reminders, and email communications. Retrospective data were analyzed using the Epic SlicerDicer tool to compare probe utilization and hypothermia incidence (defined as <35.5 °C) before and after the intervention. Following education, anesthesia provider awareness of esophageal probe accuracy increased from 40% to 45%, and perceived benefit rose from 56% to 65%. Esophageal probe use increased by 59% from 17 to 27 cases, while nasopharyngeal probe use increased by 218% from 27 to 86 cases. Although knowledge improved, practice patterns remained largely unchanged due to unclear probe selection criteria, limited in-person training, and documentation inconsistencies. These findings suggest that education alone may not sustain behavioral change; future initiatives should incorporate live training, clear criteria, and ongoing feedback.