The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2026
'Can my child swim with grommets?' Are we giving parents clear and consistent advice?
СтатьяНазвание и аннотация: Перевод в очереди
Обработка статьи · этапы, ошибки и управление
Загрузка состояния…
Ошибки и ограничения
История · было → стало
Состояние обновляется каждые 5 секунд, пока блок открыт. Процент показывается только там, где известен объём работы. Пауза останавливает продолжение этапа; текущий запрос к источнику может завершиться.
Sanderson James, Wharf Olivia, Das Prodip
Аннотация
BACKGROUND: Guidance on swimming after grommet insertion remains inconsistent. While some studies suggest minimal risk of infection without precautions, clinical advice varies significantly. Parents frequently express a need for clear, standardised information to help them confidently manage their child's swimming activities.
AIM: This study aimed to assess the advice currently given to parents and determine whether updated resources are needed.
METHOD: Between 1 March and 30 June 2025, 28 children underwent grommet insertion at the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital, Brighton. Responses were obtained from 18 parents using a structured telephone questionnaire comprising 11 questions exploring advice received and precautions followed regarding swimming. A free-text section allowed for additional comments. Parents were contacted individually to complete the survey.
RESULTS: Most parents were advised to avoid swimming for 2 weeks post-operatively. Beyond that, guidance varied, particularly regarding earplug use, submersion, and diving. While most received advice from ENT surgeons or nursing staff, nearly 20% relied on social media or parenting forums. Many expressed concerns about their child swimming with grommets, especially related to ear infections or the grommets falling out. A substantial proportion (27.8%) found the advice unclear or inconsistent, and 27.9% were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with the amount and clarity of information provided.
CONCLUSION: Advice on swimming after grommet insertion is highly variable. Many parents remain uncertain or anxious about the risks. The current authors plan to develop a standardised leaflet and website to support families and guardians, and will re-survey to assess whether these resources improve parental confidence.
AIM: This study aimed to assess the advice currently given to parents and determine whether updated resources are needed.
METHOD: Between 1 March and 30 June 2025, 28 children underwent grommet insertion at the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital, Brighton. Responses were obtained from 18 parents using a structured telephone questionnaire comprising 11 questions exploring advice received and precautions followed regarding swimming. A free-text section allowed for additional comments. Parents were contacted individually to complete the survey.
RESULTS: Most parents were advised to avoid swimming for 2 weeks post-operatively. Beyond that, guidance varied, particularly regarding earplug use, submersion, and diving. While most received advice from ENT surgeons or nursing staff, nearly 20% relied on social media or parenting forums. Many expressed concerns about their child swimming with grommets, especially related to ear infections or the grommets falling out. A substantial proportion (27.8%) found the advice unclear or inconsistent, and 27.9% were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with the amount and clarity of information provided.
CONCLUSION: Advice on swimming after grommet insertion is highly variable. Many parents remain uncertain or anxious about the risks. The current authors plan to develop a standardised leaflet and website to support families and guardians, and will re-survey to assess whether these resources improve parental confidence.