title: Reduction of Risk Factors in Patients with Behavioral Dysphonia After Vocal Group Therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The origin and development of dysphonia, particularly behavioral dysphonia, is associated with several risk factors. Here, we verified the effectiveness of group therapy in reducing the risk factors, and established the association between risk factors and sex, age, profession, and diagnosis of laryngeal disorders in patients with behavioral dysphonia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a descriptive, quantitative, field intervention study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (n = 26, adult patients of both sexes), with a diagnosis of behavioral dysphonia, received group therapy intervention. Data for risk factors were collected pre- and posttherapy using the Vocal Screening Protocol. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (Student t test, chi-squared test or Spearman correlation test).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority (80.8%, n = 21) of patients were female, 65.4% (n = 17) were not in a vocal profession, and 42.3% (n = 11) presented with a lesion in the membranous portion of the vocal fold. The number of personal risk factors decreased after group therapy (P = 0.04). In addition, age was correlated with total (P = 0.001), environmental (P = 0.002), and personal (P = 0.003) vocal risk factors posttherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study revealed an association between the reduction of personal risk factors and vocal group therapy, and a correlation between age and total, environmental, and personal vocal risk factors posttherapy. Thus, maintenance and origins of the behaviors that modify the behavioral aspects of the participants directly influence the production of individual vocal habits.
authors.affiliation: Prefeitura Municipal de Pirpirituba, Pirpirituba, Paraíba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Wégina Jordâna Nascimento da
authors.initials: WJND
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech and Language, Universidade Federal da Paraiba (UFPB), João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leonardo Wanderley
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitário Lauro Wanderley, Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB), João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Anny Elizabety Ramalho de
authors.initials: AER
authors.lastname: Macedo
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Modelos de Decisão e Saúde, Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza, Universidade Federal da Paraíba-UFPB, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Denise Batista da
authors.initials: DBD
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech and Language, Universidade Federal da Paraiba (UFPB), João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. Electronic address: anna_alice@uol.com.br.
authors.forename: Anna Alice Figueiredo de
authors.initials: AAF
authors.lastname: Almeida
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001938:Brazil; D055154:Dysphonia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D013070:Speech Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014833:Voice Quality; D014834:Voice Training
keywords: Dysphonia; Group process; Risk factor; Speech therapy; Voice disorders