Parental knowledge and awareness of post-tonsillectomy complications and instructions: a cross-sectional study in Hail, Saudi Arabia.

INTRODUCTION: Parental awareness of post-tonsillectomy complications and postoperative medication use is essential for safe home care and early recognition of complications, yet knowledge gaps remain common. This study evaluated parents' knowledge of post-tonsillectomy complications and medications and identified factors associated with overall knowledge in Hail, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among parents in Hail, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge items, sources of information, and experiences with preoperative counseling and postoperative instructions. An overall knowledge score was calculated by assigning one point for each correct response, with a cutoff of 60% used to classify knowledge as poor or good. RESULTS: Overall parental knowledge was limited, with 743 parents (73.5%) classified as having poor knowledge and 268 parents (26.5%) demonstrating good knowledge. Knowledge gaps were most notable regarding postoperative bleeding, emergency management, and appropriate medication use. Higher knowledge levels were significantly associated with older age, higher education, prior experience with a child who had undergone tonsillectomy, receiving information from doctors, and adequate preoperative counseling and postoperative instructions. Gender was not significantly associated with knowledge. CONCLUSION: Parents demonstrated insufficient knowledge despite acknowledging the importance of medical education. Better preoperative counseling and postoperative guidance are needed to improve parental awareness and child safety after tonsillectomy.