Psychometric evaluation of the Post Hospitalization Behavior Questionnaire for Ambulatory Surgery and postoperative...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Postoperative Care
• Child Psychology

Background:

• Tonsillectomy is a common pediatric surgical procedure.
• Understanding postoperative recovery and behavior is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes.
• Existing questionnaires assess recovery but may not fully capture behavioral changes in ambulatory surgery settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the postoperative recovery and behavioral changes in children following tonsil surgery.
• To examine the correlation between parental and child-reported outcomes.
• To identify factors influencing recovery, such as age and gender.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, comparative cross-sectional survey was conducted.
• 143 children undergoing tonsil surgery participated.
• Parents completed the Post Hospitalization Behavior Questionnaire for Ambulatory Surgery (PHBQ-AS); children completed the Postoperative Recovery in Children (PRiC) questionnaire.

Main Results:

• A positive correlation was found between the PHBQ-AS, PRiC, and general health.
• Up to one-third of children reported physical symptoms on day 10 post-surgery.
• Girls reported lower quality of recovery, with increased nausea, dizziness, coldness, and headache compared to boys.
• Children under 6 years experienced more dizziness, poorer sleep quality, and lower general health.

Conclusions:

• Postoperative recovery in children after tonsillectomy can be prolonged, with persistent physical symptoms and behavioral effects.
• Gender and age are significant factors influencing the quality of postoperative recovery.
• The findings highlight the need for tailored postoperative care strategies for different pediatric patient groups.