To tell or not: parental thoughts on disclosure of urologic surgery to their child

PURPOSE: Literature pertaining to surgical disclosure to the pediatric patient is lacking. We hypothesized parents would find it difficult to disclose urologic surgery to a child. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Parents of patients <5 years old undergoing urologic surgery were contacted for telephone survey. Parents were asked about future plans of surgical disclosure, comfort with disclosure, and any support received. RESULTS: 98 parents consented to study participation. 87% of surgeries were on the genitalia with 62% being minor genitalia surgery (i.e. circumcision). 70% of parents would tell their child about minor genital surgery while 84% would tell about major genital surgery (p=0.07). 4 of 20 parents of children undergoing hypospadias repair (major genital surgery) did not plan to tell their child about surgery. All parents of children undergoing non-genital surgery would tell. Of all parents planning to tell their children about surgery, only 14% were nervous. 34% of parents would find guidance in talking to their child helpful despite the majority (90%) stating no guidance had ever been provided. CONCLUSIONS: Parents seem comfortable discussing urologic surgeries with a child but about 1/3 would appreciate further counseling. 20% of parents of children undergoing hypospadias repair hope to avoid telling their child.