Does the quality of life impact of tonsillitis correlate with SIGN guideline compliance? An assessment of range and normality.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the scores of those who are eligible to be listed for tonsillectomy through compliance with the SIGN guidelines for any trends or range.


METHODS
A prospective study of all patients (aged 16 or above) listed for elective tonsillectomy from a nurse led tonsil clinic. Patients were given a TOI-14 questionnaire to complete after they had been added to the waiting list for surgery, but before undergoing tonsillectomy. Scores were assessed using SPSS.


METHODS
Outpatient clinic.


METHODS
Patients aged over 16 listed for Tonsillectomy via SIGN Guideline 117.


METHODS
Scores from TOI-14, completed pre-operatively.


RESULTS
155 patients were listed from the nurse led clinic from October 2012 to August 2014; 5 questionnaires were excluded for being incomplete. The score range was 55 (15-70), with a calculated mean score of 45.62 and standard deviation of 9.701. Over 95% of results were within 2 standard deviations of the mean. A calculated negative skew also confirms that most patients who have clinical indications for tonsillectomy compliant with the SIGN guidelines show a higher score on the TOI-14.


CONCLUSIONS
This analysis indicates a trend of pre-intervention scores on the TOI-14 questionnaire for those patients who have a SIGN guideline compliant clinical indication for a tonsillectomy. We therefore propose that this suggests correlation between 'clinically strong' indication for tonsillitis and patient perceived Quality of Life impact.
Department of ENT, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, UK. rujuta.roplekar@nhs.net, r.r.roplekar@doctors.org.uk.
R
R
Roplekar
Department of ENT, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, UK.
M
M
Van
Department of ENT, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, UK.
S S M
SS
Hussain
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014850:Waiting Lists