• D Kendrick, J Stewart, S Smith, C Coupland, N Hopkins, L Groom, E Towner, M Hayes, D Gibson, J Ryan, G O'Donnell, D Radford, C Phillips, and R Murphy.
• Division of Primary Care, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK. denise.kendrick@nottingham.ac.uk
• Arch. Dis. Child. 2011 Mar 1; 96 (3): 232-9.

ObjectivesTo assess the effectiveness of thermostatic mixing valves (TMVs) in reducing bath hot tap water temperature, assess acceptability of TMVs to families and impact on bath time safety practices.DesignPragmatic parallel arm randomised controlled trial.SettingA social housing organisation in Glasgow, Scotland, UK.Participants124 families with at least one child under 5 years.InterventionA TMV fitted by a qualified plumber and educational leaflets before and at the time of TMV fitting.Main Outcome MeasuresBath hot tap water temperature at 3-month and 12-month post-intervention or randomisation, acceptability, problems with TMVs and bath time safety practices.ResultsIntervention arm families had a significantly lower bath hot water temperature at 3-month and 12-month follow-up than families in the control arm (3 months: intervention arm median 45.0°C, control arm median 56.0°C, difference between medians, -11.0, 95% CI -14.3 to -7.7); 12 months: intervention arm median 46.0°C, control arm median 55.0°C, difference between medians -9.0, 95% CI -11.8 to -6.2) They were significantly more likely to be happy or very happy with their bath hot water temperature (RR 1.43, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.93), significantly less likely to report the temperature as being too hot (RR 0.33, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.68) and significantly less likely to report checking the temperature of every bath (RR 0.84, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.97). Seven (15%) intervention arm families reported problems with their TMV.ConclusionsTMVs and accompanying educational leaflets are effective at reducing bath hot tap water temperatures in the short and longer term and are acceptable to families. Housing providers should consider fitting TMVs in their properties and legislators should consider mandating their use in refurbishments as well as in new builds.

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