title: Parental pressure for tonsillectomy: attitudes and knowledge of parents accompanying their children to an ear, nose and throat clinic.
abstract: The parents of 120 children referred for possible tonsillectomy to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeon were studied. There was no evidence that a desire for the operation fulfilled 'psychological needs' for parents or was a means of coping with a 'deviant' child. Parents favouring tonsillectomy were less well informed, and the educational role of the general practitioner in reducing the small number of those who inappropriately pressurize medical services is highlighted.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001290:Attitude; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010036:Otolaryngology; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010821:Physicians, Family; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data