Nayara Ribeiro Gomes1, Letícia Caldas Teixeira2, Adriane Mesquita de Medeiros2. 1. Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG-Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais), Minas Gerais, MG, Brazil. Electronic address: nayara.fono@yahoo.com.br. 2. Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG-Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais), Minas Gerais, MG, Brazil.
Abstract
AIM: Investigating the association among vocal symptoms, vocal resources, and work environment in university professors. METHODS: Online questionnaire answered by 334 professors from a federal public university in Belo Horizonte County, Brazil. The questionnaire addressed sociodemographic data, self-perception about one's voice, vocal resources and work environment, and included the Vocal Signs and Symptoms Questionnaire. Professors presenting five or more vocal symptoms were compared to those who reported fewer symptoms. The association between the number of symptoms and the other variables was assessed through univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: The mean of symptoms reported by the herein investigated professors was 3.1 (SD ± 2.75); 24% (n = 82) of them reported five or more vocal symptoms. Factors such as female sex, incidence of noise, high speaking rate, as well as high fundamental frequency and loud voice, were associated with the incidence of five or more vocal symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: University professors belonging to the female sex, who perceive the noise in the work environment as unsatisfactory, speak fast, or present high fundamental frequency and loud voice reported the largest number of vocal symptoms. It is recommended developing education programs focused on raising professors' awareness about voice-related risk factors and about the importance of improving their communicative performance.
AIM: Investigating the association among vocal symptoms, vocal resources, and work environment in university professors. METHODS: Online questionnaire answered by 334 professors from a federal public university in Belo Horizonte County, Brazil. The questionnaire addressed sociodemographic data, self-perception about one's voice, vocal resources and work environment, and included the Vocal Signs and Symptoms Questionnaire. Professors presenting five or more vocal symptoms were compared to those who reported fewer symptoms. The association between the number of symptoms and the other variables was assessed through univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: The mean of symptoms reported by the herein investigated professors was 3.1 (SD ± 2.75); 24% (n = 82) of them reported five or more vocal symptoms. Factors such as female sex, incidence of noise, high speaking rate, as well as high fundamental frequency and loud voice, were associated with the incidence of five or more vocal symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: University professors belonging to the female sex, who perceive the noise in the work environment as unsatisfactory, speak fast, or present high fundamental frequency and loud voice reported the largest number of vocal symptoms. It is recommended developing education programs focused on raising professors' awareness about voice-related risk factors and about the importance of improving their communicative performance.