title: Working Conditions and Workplace Barriers to Vocal Health in Primary School Teachers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to identify the working conditions and workplace barriers to vocal health in primary school teachers. The relationship between working conditions and voice is analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a survey study in 42 randomized schools from a restricted geographical area.
  
  
  METHODS
  An 85-item questionnaire was administered to 550 primary school teachers in 42 schools in Dublin. It was designed to obtain information on demographics, vocal use patterns, vocal health, work organization, working conditions, and teacher's perceptions of the conditions in teaching that might cause a voice problem. The relationship between voice and overstretched work demands, and voice and class size, was examined. A chi-squared test was run to test the null hypothesis that the variables overstretched work demands and voice and class size and voice are independent. Subjects were given the opportunity to give their opinion on their working conditions and on the availability of advice and support within the workplace. A final question sought their opinion on what should be included in a voice care program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A 55% response rate was obtained (n = 304). It was found with 96.52% confidence that the variables overstretched work demands and voice are related. Likewise, it was found that the variables class size and voice are related with 99.97% confidence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are workplace barriers to vocal health. The working conditions of primary school teachers need to be fully adapted to promote vocal health. Changes by education and health policy makers are needed to achieve this goal. There is a need for future research which focuses on the working conditions of teachers.
authors.affiliation: Geneva, Switzerland. Electronic address: caitriona.munier@outlook.com.
authors.forename: Caitriona
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Munier
authors.affiliation: Department of Banking and Finance, Smurfit School of Business, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Rory
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Farrell
mesh_terms: D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003479:Curriculum; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D007587:Job Description; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016272:Occupational Health; D010465:Perception; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching; D013997:Time Factors; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014833:Voice Quality; D016526:Workload; D017132:Workplace
keywords: Class size; Early vocal symptoms; Overstretched work demands; Primary school curriculum; Professional Voice User; Support and advice; Teachers; Vocal health; Voice care programs; Voice problems; Voice training; Working conditions; Workplace barriers