Vocal, laryngopharyngeal and vocal fatigue symptoms in teachers in the COVID-19 pandemic scenario

• Grant number: 21/08195-1
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): October 01, 2021
• Effective date (End): September 30, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Speech Therapy
• Principal researcher: Kelly Cristina Alves Silverio
• Grantee: Melissa de Oliveira Mota
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Bauru (FOB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: The teacher's voice is a very studied topic in the literature, as several factors contribute to the development of vocal disorders. In the COVID-19 pandemic scenario, there were several changes in the teaching practice, such as adoption of remote and hybrid classes, so it became necessary to investigate whether, in the absence of some factors that contribute to the development of vocal alterations, there were improvement in vocal, laryngopharyngeal and vocal fatigue symptoms that teachers usually have, and what are the possible factors that are affecting the teacher's voice in this context. Objective: Investigate, in the pandemic scenario, vocal, laryngopharyngeal and vocal fatigue symptoms in teachers, as well verify etiological factors such as: work, organizational and personal environment that are associated with the possible symptoms presented. Materials and Method: The population will be composed by teachers of both sexes, aged between 18 and 50 years, from municipal and state public schools active in Elementary and High School. After conducting a pilot study with the first 30 participants, there will be a sample calculation, using the Sigma 12.0 software (Systat Software Inc., USA, Chicago, Illinois), to define the number of participants. After signing the consent form, participants will be invited to answer, through an electronic form, the protocols Vocal Fatigue Index - VFI, Vocal Symptom Scale - VoiSS and Screening Index for Voice Disorder - SIVD; and a complementary questionnaire (Annex). The collected data will be tabulated and analyzed by parametric or non-parametric statistical tests, depending on the distribution of results, with a significance level of 5% (p<0.005). At the end of the research, all participants will be invited to return the research findings. Those who remain with complaints and vocal disorders will be referred for further evaluation and further treatment in the Voice sector of the Clinic of Speech Therapy at FOB/USP.