Circumcision: we have heard from the experts; now let's hear from the parents.
OBJECTIVE
The current study sought to investigate parental attitudes about circumcision and their satisfaction with the decision.


METHODS
Parents of boys (6 months to 36 months old) in 3 different practices filled out a questionnaire while waiting for their child's well-child examination.


RESULTS
A total of 149 families were surveyed. Families (68) who did not have their sons circumcised were less satisfied with their decision. Compared with families (81) of circumcised children, parents of uncircumcised boys were less likely to have been asked by their physician about whether they wanted their child circumcised, believed that they did not receive adequate information about the procedure, felt less respected by their medical provider, and were more likely to reconsider their decision.


CONCLUSIONS
The importance of adequate information and discussion is highlighted by this study.
Adler
R
R
California School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA. radler@chla.usc.edu
Ottaway
M S
MS
Gould
S
S
D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002944:Circumcision, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires