Voice Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL): Impact of Vocal Hygiene Programme in Secondary School Teachers

Abstract

Objective: Teachers as professional voice users are thought to be at a higher risk of voice problems due to intensive voice use during routine at work. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a Vocal Hygiene Programme on the Voice Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL) in Secondary School Teachers. Method: A longitudinal study where 40 full-time secondary school teachers in the age range of 27- 50years with a mean age of 36.7 years volunteered to participate. The participants had a mean teaching experience of 10 years. Out of the total, 28 were females and 12 males. Most of the teachers indulged around minimum 30 hours of teaching per week in a class of more than 45 students each. A self-administered questionnaire was administered to obtain information on demographic data, prevalence of vocal symptoms in past one year and vocal usage in different situations. A 3-months Vocal Hygiene Programme was given to them to be followed. To assess the effect of the programme on voice of the participating teachers, the Voice-Related Quality of Life instrument (V-RQOL by Hogikyan and Seturaman, 1999) was applied at baseline and three months after conclusion of the Vocal Hygiene Programme. Results: The Vocal Hygiene Programme had a significant positive impact on the Voice related quality of Life of the teachers. The total global V-RQOL score improved from 81.25 to 87.19. Hence, it is concluded that a Vocal Hygiene Programme can be used as a preventive programme in high risk occupational voice users i.e. teachers.