Increased Interval From Initial Evaluation to Initial Voice Therapy Session is Associated With Missed Voice Therapy...

Area of Science:

• Laryngology
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Voice therapy (VT) is crucial for treating laryngeal disorders, but patient outcomes depend on adherence.
• Variations in patient volume lead to fluctuating wait times for initial VT sessions.
• Limited research exists on the impact of VT session latency and missed appointments on patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify factors contributing to missed initial VT sessions.
• To determine if a >4-week interval between evaluation and VT increases no-show rates.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of a prospective voice and swallowing database from a tertiary academic center (2014-2017).
• Included patients with dysphonia or dyspnea scheduled for VT post-evaluation.
• Evaluated 318 patients meeting inclusion criteria.

Main Results:

• A >4-week interval to VT significantly increased the likelihood of missed appointments (OR 2.07).
• Multivariate analysis identified interval to VT, Reflux Severity Index (RSI), race, and profession as significant factors.
• Univariate analysis also implicated insurance type, BMI, and Eating Assessment Tool-10 scores.

Conclusions:

• A delay of >4 weeks for the first VT session is associated with a higher risk of missed appointments.
• Race, RSI, and professional voice use are also significant predictors of missed VT appointments.
• Optimizing VT scheduling may improve patient compliance and outcomes in voice and swallowing clinics.