The 'health culture' of families as an influence on the use of surgery for glue ear: a case-control study.

The influence of elements of a family's health culture (its health beliefs, attitudes and behaviour) on the decision for children to undergo surgery for glue ear was investigated by means of a case-control study. One hundred and forty-two children who had undergone such surgery were compared with the same number of children from their school class. Data derived from a structured questionnaire administered to the parents in their own homes revealed that the families were similar with regard to most biosocial factors. However, there were clear differences in the labelling of middle ear disease. Children in case families were more likely to be diagnosed as suffering from glue ear rather than recurrent acute otitis media, particularly if an older sibling of the same sex had previously been so diagnosed (for boys RR 6.68; for girls RR 4.55). This influence of the family's health culture was supported by the findings that parents tended to view their children as having presented more developmental problems; and to be more conscious themselves of health promoting activities. Further studies employing different methodologies are required to confirm these findings.