Pediatric Otolaryngology During COVID-19: Parental Concern About Elective Surgery

Abstract

Objective: To identify the concerns of parents whose children may need elective surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: In December 2020, parents of pediatric otolaryngology patients were recruited for a survey about concerns related to elective surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. A Likert scale quantified concern. The 1 was anchored “Not at all important” and 5 was “Most important.” Demographics included gender, age, race, education level, number of children in household, and whether their child had surgery since March 2020. Results: About 253 participants were included. Medians ranged from 1 for concerns about emotional and family support to 4 for concerns about their child being exposed to COVID-19 in the Emergency Room. Black parents were more concerned about the risks of COVID than White parents; they were more concerned about their child contracting COVID-19 during surgery compared to White parents, median was 4 versus 3 ( P = .027). Black parents had a median score of 3 for concern about medical expenses compared to a median of 2 ( P = .001). Parents of children who had surgery since March 2020 had less concern about their child being exposed to COVID-19 during hospitalization ( P = .045) and less concern about critique from others ( P = .024). Conclusion: Parents were most concerned about the risk of seeking Emergency Room care. Black parents were generally more concerned about having their child undergo elective surgery. Whether this is translated into fewer Black children undergoing important but elective surgery requires more study.