NR ANYM
AU Loughran,S.; Alves,C.B.; Geddes,N.K.
TI The perceived risk of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and the effect of additional delay in tonsillectomy: a questionnaire based parents perspective.
QU International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology 2003 Jul; 67(7): 743-8
PT journal article
AB OBJECTIVES: In February 2001 the United Kingdom Department of Health in conjunction with the British Association of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgeons decreed that all non-emergency tonsillectomies should be performed using disposable instruments because of the theoretical risk of transmission of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD). There was an understandable delay in the provision of these instruments by the various manufacturers, leading to an increase in waiting time for surgery. It was decided to assess parental attitudes to the risk of vCJD, and assess the effect the additional delay had on their child. METHOD: A questionnaire was sent to the parents of all 249 children on the waiting list for tonsillectomy. RESULTS: Seventy percent replied, and of these, 37% felt there was a risk of reusing instruments, only 10% felt there was no risk, and the remaining 53% did not know if there was any risk. Nevertheless 41% of parents would have gone ahead using old instruments if allowed. All parents of the 73 children waiting greater than 6 months were questioned on the effect of the additional delay. Only 7% reported improvement in symptoms, and 68% felt the additional delay had badly affected their child's health and wellbeing. Ninety percent of parents felt their child's symptoms still warranted tonsillectomy. CONCLUSION: There is an awareness of risk of vCJD among parents whose children await tonsillectomy, although understandably the level of risk they feel is hard to quantify. The rate of symptom resolution whilst on the waiting list was very low.
MH Adult; *Attitude; Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome/*etiology/genetics/*prevention &; control/psychology; *Disposable Equipment; Great Britain; Human; Middle Age; Parents/*psychology; Postoperative Complications/prevention & control; Questionnaires; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Surgical Instruments; Tonsillectomy/*adverse effects; Tonsillitis/surgery; *Waiting Lists
AD Department of Otolaryngology, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow, UK. sean@ihr.gla.ac.uk
SP englisch
PO Irland