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My mom sometimes uses a device that attaches to my fingertip

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to measure my oxygen saturation levels.  

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Do a lot of other families use these devices

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and are they reliable?

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Great question. The device your mom is using is

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called a pulse oximeter.

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It measures the oxygen saturation levels in your blood

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and medical grade versions are very common in acute care

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settings like CHEO

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to assess the severity of breathing problems.

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Inexpensive consumer grade oximeters can be purchased easily

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online or at pharmacies and some smart phones

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and smart watches even have oximeters

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integrated right into them.

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At CHEO, we designed a research study to find out

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how common these devices were

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and how parents were interpreting the results.

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We surveyed 200 participants in the respirology

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and cardiology clinics at CHEO

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and a sample from the gastroenterology clinic.

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Of the 200 participants, 53 had oximeters at home and all

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but 10 bought them online or at a pharmacy.

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Most families who owned an oximeter used it when they were

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acutely worried about the child's health.

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Some used it every day.

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The families we surveyed had different ideas of

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what they considered a normal ox oxygen saturation level

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to be and

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what level will make them worried about the child's health.

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Some looked at a range of readings while others

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looked at a single reading.

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There were also varying approaches as

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to when an oximeter reading would prompt a visit

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to the emergency department or seeking further care.

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Overall trust in these devices seemed inappropriately high

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with nearly half of the respondents believing the device

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was very accurate.

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This is especially concerning for the parents of babies.

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As a previous CHEO research study revealed

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that some exhibitors marketed

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for pediatric use online were not very accurate, especially

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for babies under the age of one with nearly one third

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of families surveyed having an oximeter at home.

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We know these devices are pretty common.

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Asking whether families have an oximeter should become a

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routine question for pediatric healthcare providers.

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Parents and caregivers shouldn't be discouraged from using

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these devices, but they should be offered education on how

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to use and interpret the results and when to consult.

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CHEO's online resources

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to determine if the child needs emergency care.

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If you have your own oximeter

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and your child is seeing a healthcare professional,

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bring the device with you so you can compare it

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with a medical grade device.