Date of Award

2021

Degree Type

Selective Evidence-Based Medicine Review

Degree Name

Master of Science in Health Sciences - Physician Assistant

Department

Physician Assistant Studies

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective evidence based medicine (EBM) review is to determine whether or not “Is honey is effective in reducing pain for people who had tonsillectomy?”

STUDY DESIGN: Review two randomized control trials and one cohort study published in English between 2009 and 2019.

DATA SOURCES: Two randomized control trials and one cohort study were found using PubMed databases.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The primary outcome measured was the pain intensity after tonsillectomy. The study by Mohebbi et al. and Hatami et al. used visual analog scale (VAS) and the study by Abdullah et al. used the facial pain scale for patients under 7 years old and VAS for patients above 7 years old.

RESULTS: One randomized control trial (RCT) comparing honey to cephalexin, one RCT comparing honey to sultamicillin, and one cohort study comparing honey to tramadol. In a RCT by Mohebbi et al., there was a significant reduction in pain between honey and cephalexin. In a RCT by Abdullah et al. illustrated that the p-value was 0.655 indicating the result was not significant. The cohort study by Hatami et al. showed that the p-value was greater than 0.05 indicating the result was not significant.

CONCLUSIONS: There were conflicting data in assessing the efficacy of honey in reducing pain for people who had tonsillectomy. In order to evaluate whether honey can significantly reduce pain, there needs to be more reliable studies that include larger sample size, or different types of honey.

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