The Reported Incidence and Nature of Voice Disorders in the Private Healthcare Context of Gauteng.
OBJECTIVE
The study aimed to determine the incidence and nature of voice disorders, as reported by ear, nose, and throat specialists (ENTs), in the Gauteng private healthcare context.


METHODS
This is a cross-sectional survey design.


METHODS
The respondents had to be certified ENTs working in the private healthcare context in Gauteng. The survey was sent out electronically to all 94 ENTs, registered with the ENT Society, working in the private healthcare context; thus, no additional requirements had to be met. The survey inquired about the total number of referrals from January 2015 to January 2016, the total number of referrals who were diagnosed with a voice disorder, as well as information regarding the patients such as the nature of the voice disorders.


RESULTS
Of the 94 surveys sent out, 24 of them were completed (25.5%). The incidence of voice disorders reported was 5.2%. The most commonly diagnosed voice disorder is acute laryngitis (32%). The majority of ENTs (75%) received referrals from general practitioners and referred to speech-language pathologists if the patient presented with a voice disorder.


CONCLUSIONS
The results from this study may enable healthcare professionals to adequately plan service delivery resource allocations to provide appropriate services. Additional studies are required to examine the incidence of voice disorders in the public healthcare context as well as the prevalence of voice disorders in Gauteng.
Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
Kayla
K
Fourie
Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
Maeve
M
Richardson
Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. Electronic address: jeannie.vanderlinde@up.ac.za.
Jeannie
J
van der Linde
Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
Shabnam
S
Abdoola
Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
Renata
R
Mosca
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010036:Otolaryngology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017149:Private Sector; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012307:Risk Factors; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D014833:Voice Quality
ENT; Incidence; Nature; Private healthcare context; Voice disorders