PREVALENCE OF OCCUPATIONAL VOICE DISORDERS AMONG PHYSICIANS OF PRIVATE CLINICS AT MATARYIA DISTRICT, CAIRO | ||||
| Egyptian Journal of Occupational Medicine | ||||
| Article 3, Volume 36, Issue 2, July 2012, Page 163-175 PDF (194.9 K) | ||||
| Document Type: Study paper | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejom.2012.758 | ||||
 View on SCiNiTO | ||||
| Authors | ||||
| El Tayeb M.; Abdo NM | ||||
| Department of Community, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Introduction: Physicians use their voice in their occupation for almost the same length of time per day as professional voice users, e.g., teachers . In addition, they are also exposed to respiratory tract infections(RTI) that can cause voice problems. Aim of the work: To compare the voice disorders between private clinics’ physicians and laboratory (lab) physicians at Mataryia district, Cairo city, through the following objectives: 1- to identify the prevalence of voice problems among both groups. 2- To find out the most common voice disorders. 3- To assess the main risk factors of voice disorders. Materials and Methods: a comparative cross sectional study was implemented. The study covered the period from March to October 2012 at the Mataryia district, Cairo city. All participants have been subjected to the survey form that was used consisted of 31 questions to get information about age, gender, duration of employment, voice disorders, causes of voice disorders, daily vocal load, vocal habits, allergies, typical and atypical symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux (GER), sufficient hydration and smoking. Results: The total prevalence of voice disorders was significantly higher among private clinics’ physicians (55.6%) than lab physicians (28.9%). 34.3% of private clinics’ physicians complained voice disorders during training. Effort to talk and affecting communication were the most reported symptoms with significantly higher frequency among clinics’ physicians (100%). Female gender speaks loudly, shouts frequently, frequent throat clearing, symptoms of gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD), smoking, allergy and insufficient hydration represented the most important risk factors for clinics’ physicians with frequent voice disorders. Conclusion and Recommendations: The prevalence of voice disorders was higher among clinics’ physicians more than lab physicians. Based on the findings, the following recommendations can be suggested: 1- health education about correct vocal technique, vocal hygiene, and additional information about diseases causing voice disorders should be included in the postgraduate medical education. 2- Increase the number of researches focus on voice problems among physicians. 3- Increase the number of physician to decrease the work load and making rest during voice problem easier. 4- Use handouts and posters to help in communication with the patients. . | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Voice disorders; Private clinics; Physicians; Egypt | ||||
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