title: Risk Factors of Voice Disorders and Impact of Vocal Hygiene Awareness Program Among Teachers in Public Schools in Egypt.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Even though many studies have explored the problem of voice disorders among teachers worldwide, this problem is still not adequately studied in Egypt. The following study was conducted to investigate the risk factors of voice disorders among an Egyptian sample of school teachers, to measure the effect of a vocal hygiene awareness program on them, and to investigate their vocal cord lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred fifty-six teachers working in public schools and 180 administrative workers in the Faculty of Medicine in the same city participated in this study. They completed a self-administered questionnaire investigating voice disorders, and were subjected to a voice awareness program and a clinical examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Voice-related symptoms and Voice Handicap Index were statistically significantly higher among teachers compared with the control subjects. Work duration and high frequency of classes per week of ≥15 were the most statistically significant indicators influencing a teacher's voice. Three months after application of vocal hygiene awareness program, the teachers who were studied showed a statistically significant increase in their awareness about vocal hygiene tips.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Egyptian teachers working in public schools are dealing with classes that include a great number of students per class. They also have to deal with unprofessional facilities and limited assisting resources. Therefore, they are highly exposed to the risk of voice-related disorders. Increasing awareness about healthy behavior with the voice in their occupations will help in improving their quality of work and in minimizing any permanent impairments and/or disability.
authors: Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt. Electronic address: sar_bo@yahoo.com.
authors: Sarah A
authors: SA
authors: Bolbol
authors: Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.
authors: Marwa M
authors: MM
authors: Zalat
authors: Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.
authors: Rehab A M
authors: RA
authors: Hammam
authors: Department of Phoniatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.
authors: Nasser L
authors: NL
authors: Elnakeb
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007587:Job Description; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016272:Occupational Health; D015397:Program Evaluation; D017150:Public Sector; D012307:Risk Factors; D000070777:School Teachers / Q000523:psychology*; D049489:Stroboscopy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014741:Video Recording; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014833:Voice Quality; D016526:Workload
keywords: Risk factors; Teachers; Vocal hygiene; Voice Handicap Index; Voice disorders