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Background <p>Healthcare professionals face significant occupational voice demands through prolonged patient consultations, medical education, and clinical discussions, often in acoustically challenging environments. These demands may lead to voice fatigue (VF), vocal strain, communication difficulties, and reduced work productivity, representing important occupational health concerns.</p> Objectives <p>To assess the prevalence of occupational voice fatigue among healthcare professionals in a tertiary care teaching institute and identify associated workplace factors.</p> Materials and methods <p>A cross-sectional study was conducted among 276 healthcare professionals at a tertiary care institute in Puducherry, India, using convenience sampling. Participants completed demographic questionnaires and the validated Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI-2). Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with voice fatigue. Voice fatigue was assessed using standardized cut-off scores: VFI Part I &gt; 24 (tiredness/avoidance), Part II &gt; 7 (physical discomfort), and Part III &lt; 7 (poor rest recovery).</p> Results <p>Among 276 participants (mean age 28.4 ± 4.2 years; 144 males, 132 females), voice fatigue prevalence was 26.1% (95% CI, 21.1–31.6%) for tiredness/avoidance symptoms and 23.2% (95% CI, 18.4–28.5%) for physical discomfort. Postgraduate residents comprised 60.1% of participants, with 69.6% having ≤ 3&#xa0;years clinical experience. Daily patient loads &gt; 10 were reported by 74.7%. Multivariate analysis identified significant associations (p &lt; 0.05) between voice fatigue and patient load, teaching hours, and years of experience.</p> Conclusion <p>Occupational voice fatigue affects one-quarter of healthcare professionals, with significant associations found with workload factors. These findings underscore the urgent need for workplace voice health interventions, preventive screening programs, and targeted education for high-risk groups including junior medical staff.</p>

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Occupational voice fatigue among healthcare professionals in a tertiary care institute: a cross-sectional study

  • 期刊论文

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月31日

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  • Saaketh Boddupalli,
  • Jayasree B.,
  • Poongkamali J.,
  • Gayatheri Vengadesan,
  • Akash Murali

摘要

Background

Healthcare professionals face significant occupational voice demands through prolonged patient consultations, medical education, and clinical discussions, often in acoustically challenging environments. These demands may lead to voice fatigue (VF), vocal strain, communication difficulties, and reduced work productivity, representing important occupational health concerns.

Objectives

To assess the prevalence of occupational voice fatigue among healthcare professionals in a tertiary care teaching institute and identify associated workplace factors.

Materials and methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 276 healthcare professionals at a tertiary care institute in Puducherry, India, using convenience sampling. Participants completed demographic questionnaires and the validated Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI-2). Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with voice fatigue. Voice fatigue was assessed using standardized cut-off scores: VFI Part I > 24 (tiredness/avoidance), Part II > 7 (physical discomfort), and Part III < 7 (poor rest recovery).

Results

Among 276 participants (mean age 28.4 ± 4.2 years; 144 males, 132 females), voice fatigue prevalence was 26.1% (95% CI, 21.1–31.6%) for tiredness/avoidance symptoms and 23.2% (95% CI, 18.4–28.5%) for physical discomfort. Postgraduate residents comprised 60.1% of participants, with 69.6% having ≤ 3 years clinical experience. Daily patient loads > 10 were reported by 74.7%. Multivariate analysis identified significant associations (p < 0.05) between voice fatigue and patient load, teaching hours, and years of experience.

Conclusion

Occupational voice fatigue affects one-quarter of healthcare professionals, with significant associations found with workload factors. These findings underscore the urgent need for workplace voice health interventions, preventive screening programs, and targeted education for high-risk groups including junior medical staff.