The role of tonsillectomy for recurrent sore throats in children: a qualitative study.

INTRODUCTION

Decisions regarding tonsillectomy for children with recurrent sore throats are mainly based on guidelines that take the number of sore throat episodes into consideration. Anecdotally, parents report a number of additional factors that change after the operation. With this in mind, the first follow up tonsillectomy qualitative study was undertaken to identify what the operation truly offers this group of children.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ten families were interviewed between 3 and 14 months after their child's operation. A narrative method was utilised. Interviews with families were transcribed and analysed to identify key themes that had changed due to the operation.

RESULTS

Themes identified included an improvement in general and specific symptoms. Psychosocial aspects such as education, socialising, family consequences and psychological consequences were also important factors that families noticed.

CONCLUSION

Tonsillectomy has much more to offer families and children than an improvement in the numbers of episodes of sore throats and this study could form the basis of a specific quality of life assessment tool.