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Tonsillectomy rates in the South African private healthcare sector

Background. Adeno-/tonsillectomy is a commonly performed procedure with internationally standardised and recognised indications. Despite this, there exists considerable international (190 - 850/100 000 people ≤19 years of age) and regional variation in adeno-/tonsillectomy rates. This variation has...

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Main Author: Douglas-Jones, Paul
Other Authors: Fagan, Johannes J
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Division of Otorhinolaryngology 2018
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access_status_str Open Access
author Douglas-Jones, Paul
author2 Fagan, Johannes J
author_browse Douglas-Jones, Paul
Fagan, Johannes J
author_facet Fagan, Johannes J
Douglas-Jones, Paul
author_sort Douglas-Jones, Paul
collection Thesis
description Background. Adeno-/tonsillectomy is a commonly performed procedure with internationally standardised and recognised indications. Despite this, there exists considerable international (190 - 850/100 000 people ≤19 years of age) and regional variation in adeno-/tonsillectomy rates. This variation has been ascribed to differences in clinical practice and referral patterns, as well as social and family factors, rather than differences in clinical need or regional morbidity. Objectives. To describe the adeno-/tonsillectomy rate in the South African private healthcare sector, and regional variations thereof. To compare local rates with international rates and to assess current trends in adeno-/tonsillectomy clinical practice. Methods. Analysis of adeno-/tonsillectomy data from January 2012 to December 2013, provided by the largest South African private healthcare funder, accounting for 31% of the medical scheme market. Rates are expressed per 100 000 people ≤19 years of age. Results. The tonsillectomy rate in the South African private healthcare sector was 1888/100 000 people ≤19 years of age in 2012. In 2013, the rate dropped significantly (p-value <0.001) to 1755/100 000. Both are more than double the highest national tonsillectomy rate reported in the literature. There was also considerable regional variation in the adeno-/tonsillectomy rate within South Africa. Otorhinolaryngologists are responsible for approximately 80% of adeno- /tonsillectomies performed in the South African private healthcare sector. Discussion. The South African tonsillectomy rate is very high when compared to international trends and varies regionally within the country. The literature does not support an increased burden of disease as the reason behind this. Rather, it is differences in training and clinical practice of clinicians, as well as social and family factors that have been implicated. Conclusion. The adeno-/tonsillectomy rate in the South African private healthcare sector is substantially higher than international norms. The reasons for this discrepancy require further consideration and investigation.
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language eng
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license_str Not specified — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
publishDate 2018
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spelling oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/27824 Tonsillectomy rates in the South African private healthcare sector Douglas-Jones, Paul Fagan, Johannes J Otorhinolaryngology Background. Adeno-/tonsillectomy is a commonly performed procedure with internationally standardised and recognised indications. Despite this, there exists considerable international (190 - 850/100 000 people ≤19 years of age) and regional variation in adeno-/tonsillectomy rates. This variation has been ascribed to differences in clinical practice and referral patterns, as well as social and family factors, rather than differences in clinical need or regional morbidity. Objectives. To describe the adeno-/tonsillectomy rate in the South African private healthcare sector, and regional variations thereof. To compare local rates with international rates and to assess current trends in adeno-/tonsillectomy clinical practice. Methods. Analysis of adeno-/tonsillectomy data from January 2012 to December 2013, provided by the largest South African private healthcare funder, accounting for 31% of the medical scheme market. Rates are expressed per 100 000 people ≤19 years of age. Results. The tonsillectomy rate in the South African private healthcare sector was 1888/100 000 people ≤19 years of age in 2012. In 2013, the rate dropped significantly (p-value <0.001) to 1755/100 000. Both are more than double the highest national tonsillectomy rate reported in the literature. There was also considerable regional variation in the adeno-/tonsillectomy rate within South Africa. Otorhinolaryngologists are responsible for approximately 80% of adeno- /tonsillectomies performed in the South African private healthcare sector. Discussion. The South African tonsillectomy rate is very high when compared to international trends and varies regionally within the country. The literature does not support an increased burden of disease as the reason behind this. Rather, it is differences in training and clinical practice of clinicians, as well as social and family factors that have been implicated. Conclusion. The adeno-/tonsillectomy rate in the South African private healthcare sector is substantially higher than international norms. The reasons for this discrepancy require further consideration and investigation. 2018-04-24T13:52:30Z 2018-04-24T13:52:30Z 2018 Master Thesis Masters MMed http://hdl.handle.net/11427/27824 eng application/pdf Division of Otorhinolaryngology Faculty of Health Sciences University of Cape Town
spellingShingle Otorhinolaryngology
Douglas-Jones, Paul
Tonsillectomy rates in the South African private healthcare sector
thesis_degree_str Master's
title Tonsillectomy rates in the South African private healthcare sector
title_full Tonsillectomy rates in the South African private healthcare sector
title_fullStr Tonsillectomy rates in the South African private healthcare sector
title_full_unstemmed Tonsillectomy rates in the South African private healthcare sector
title_short Tonsillectomy rates in the South African private healthcare sector
title_sort tonsillectomy rates in the south african private healthcare sector
topic Otorhinolaryngology
url http://hdl.handle.net/11427/27824
work_keys_str_mv AT douglasjonespaul tonsillectomyratesinthesouthafricanprivatehealthcaresector