VOICE DISORDERS IN TEACHERS AND THEIR BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL PREDICTORS: AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the prevalence of voice disorder and its predictive biopsychosocial factors in teachers of the municipal school system of the city of João Pessoa-PB. Materials and Methods: A representative sample of 270 professionally active elementary school teachers from the city of João Pessoa had vocal samples collected and later evaluated by specialists, who identified the presence or absence of voice disorder. Participants also answered questionnaires to assess occupational, physical, social, emotional and psychic factors. Descriptive analysis of the results was performed and logistic regression models were adjusted to select the biopsychosocial variables most strongly associated with the presence of voice disorder. The conclusions were presented as Odds Ratio and probabilities. Results: The prevalence of voice disorder in teachers was 86.3%. Two logistic regression models were obtained containing the variables most related to the presence of voice disorder. The first considered “female”, “high weekly workload”, “absence of resting place”, “loud noise”, “non-professional singing voice use” as strong predictors for voice disorder, with a probability of 98.4%, and the second identified “voice failure”, “high voice”, “lack of appetite”, “difficulty making decisions” and “not considering themselves more important than they think” as significant predictors, with a probability of 99.8%. Conclusion: The prevalence of voice disorder in teachers from João Pessoa-PB is quite high. Some biopsychosocial aspects are strongly associated with this disorder and their investigation can be used to select or predict the voice disorder in these professionals. DESCRIPTORS: Voice Disorders. Faculty. Risk Factors. Occupational Health. Statistical Models. Techniques Decision Support.