Teaching for tonsillectomies: details mean better compliance

As a result of the trend toward an increasing number of outpatient surgical procedures, nurses must examine methods to become more efficient and effective in teaching patients and families. This study examined the effectiveness of two methods of preoperative teaching on postoperative knowledge and compliance levels in parents whose children had undergone tonsillectomies. More detailed preoperative instruction than that routinely provided is positively related to higher postoperative knowledge and compliance levels of parents. Thus, continued studies may produce positive results related to more effective teaching programs with surgical patients and families.