Effect of an online Workplace Vocal Health and Low Stress Levels Promotion Program implemented in a Colombian university during COVID-19 pandemic.

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of an online Workplace Vocal Health and Low Stress Levels (WVHLS) Promotion Program implemented in a Colombian university during COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This research was a quasi-experimental study. Twenty-nine professors participated in this study within two groups: (1) intervention group (n=17) or (2) non-intervention group (n=12). Participants in the intervention group took part in four virtual sessions about how to improve vocal health and strategies to reduce stress levels during their homeworking and online classes. Teachers filled in a questionnaire including questions about working conditions, work-related stress, and the voice functioning (including the Vocal Fatigue Index-VFI). They also recorded a voice sample of a sustained vowel on two separate occasions (before and after the follow-up). RESULTS: At the end of the follow-up, there was a tendency to reduce Factor 1 of VFI in the intervention group. Although, all participants had a longer MPT at the end of the study compared with the baseline measures, males in the intervention group had longer MPT compared with other participants. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest a positive effect of a WVHLS promotion program on reducing vocal fatigue perception measured by means of the Vocal Fatigue Index and improving coordination and control of breathing speech measured MPT. These changes at the end of the follow-up may indicate that holistic programs that include voice care recommendations, breathing exercises, vocal warm-up, cold-down and laryngeal relaxation vocal exercises, and stress management may be beneficial for reducing work-related stress and voice symptoms among professors.

Effect of an online Workplace Vocal Health and Low Stress Levels Promotion Program implemented in a Colombian university during COVID-19 pandemic / Efeito de um programa online de promoção de saúde vocal no local de trabalho e de baixos níveis de estresse implementado em uma universidade colombiana durante a pandemia do COVID-19

ABSTRACT Purpose To determine the effect of an online Workplace Vocal Health and Low Stress Levels (WVHLS) Promotion Program implemented in a Colombian university during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This research was a quasi-experimental study. Twenty-nine professors participated in this study within two groups: (1) intervention group (n=17) or (2) non-intervention group (n=12). Participants in the intervention group took part in four virtual sessions about how to improve vocal health and strategies to reduce stress levels during their homeworking and online classes. Teachers filled in a questionnaire including questions about working conditions, work-related stress, and the voice functioning (including the Vocal Fatigue Index-VFI). They also recorded a voice sample of a sustained vowel on two separate occasions (before and after the follow-up). Results At the end of the follow-up, there was a tendency to reduce Factor 1 of VFI in the intervention group. Although, all participants had a longer MPT at the end of the study compared with the baseline measures, males in the intervention group had longer MPT compared with other participants. Conclusion Our results suggest a positive effect of a WVHLS promotion program on reducing vocal fatigue perception measured by means of the Vocal Fatigue Index and improving coordination and control of breathing speech measured MPT. These changes at the end of the follow-up may indicate that holistic programs that include voice care recommendations, breathing exercises, vocal warm-up, cold-down and laryngeal relaxation vocal exercises, and stress management may be beneficial for reducing work-related stress and voice symptoms among professors.

RESUMO Objetivo Determinar o efeito de um programa online de saúde vocal no local de trabalho e de redução dos níveis de estresse (SVLTRNE, ou por sua sigla em inglês, WVHLS - Workplace Vocal Health and Low Stress Levels), implementado em uma universidade colombiana durante a pandemia da COVID-19. Método O desenho do estudo foi quase experimental, com a participação de vinte e nove professores, separados em dois grupos: grupo intervenção (n=17) e grupo controle (n=12). Os participantes do grupo de intervenção participaram de quatro sessões virtuais que abordaram como melhorar a saúde vocal e as estratégias para reduzir os níveis de estresse durante o trabalho. Os professores preencheram um questionário que incluía questões sobre condições de trabalho, estresse relacionado ao trabalho e índice de fadiga vocal (IFV). Também foi gravada uma amostra de voz com uma vogal sustentada, em duas ocasiões diferentes (antes e depois da intervenção). Resultados No final desse estudo, foi observada uma tendência à redução do Fator 1 do IFV no grupo intervenção. Embora todos os participantes tivessem um TMF mais longo no final do estudo em comparação com as medidas basais, os homens do grupo de intervenção tiveram TMF mais longo em comparação com outros participantes. Conclusão Os resultados deste estudo sugerem um efeito positivo do programa de promoção WVHLS na redução da percepção de fadiga vocal e na melhora da coordenação e controle da coordenação pneumofônica, medidos com o IFV e TMF. Essas mudanças, observadas ao final do estudo, podem indicar que programas holísticos que incluem recomendações de cuidados com a voz, exercícios respiratórios, exercícios vocais de aquecimento e resfriamento, exercícios vocais de relaxamento laríngeo e controle do estresse podem ser benéficos para reduzir o estresse relacionado ao trabalho e sintomas vocais em professores.