Pediatric pre-tonsillectomy education programs: A systematic review

INTRODUCTION: Over 14,000 tonsillectomies are performed in Ontario annually. Challenges with home postoperative care frequently lead to Emergency Department (ED) visits. A 2013 Ontario Pediatric Health Council recommended the integration of patient education into tonsillectomy care. Understanding the existing educational services is fundamental to optimally implementing such programs into clinical settings. METHODS: Systematic review of the Ovid Medline, Cochrane, CINAHL and EMBASE Classic databases were conducted using PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: Our search identified 335 articles. Final inclusion consisted of 10 studies. These studies included eight pre-operative booklets, one smartphone app, three text-message programs, one video program, one internet resource, and three caregiver programs. Most resources improved post-tonsillectomy ED visits, patient anxiety and pain management, while others had no effect on these factors. CONCLUSIONS: There is mixed data regarding the efficacy of pre-tonsillectomy education programs on perioperative outcomes. Further research is required to better understand the utility of such programs and their implementation into healthcare settings.