The Patient Experience: The Relationship Between Vocal Handicap, Congruency, Perceived Present Control, and Mood...

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Psychology

Background:

• Voice disorders significantly impact psychosocial well-being.
• Current clinical assessments focus on laryngeal measures, offering limited insight into patient experience.
• Patient-reported outcomes are crucial for a holistic understanding of voice disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the patient experience of voice disorders using self-report measures.
• To explore the relationship between voice handicap, perceived control, and sense of self in patients with voice disorders.
• To examine correlations between voice-specific scales and mental health screeners.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective, non-experimental design involving 335 patients.
• Utilized Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10), Voice Present Perceived Control (VPPC), and Vocal Congruency Scale (VCS).
• Correlated voice scales with Perceived Stress Scale-4, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in VHI-10 and VCS scores were observed across diagnostic groups (e.g., unilateral vocal fold paralysis).
• No significant differences in VPPC scores between diagnostic groups.
• Statistically significant inverse relationships were found between VHI-10 and VPPC/VCS, and a direct relationship between VPPC and VCS for most groups.

Conclusions:

• Patient experience of voice disorders is nuanced and varies by diagnosis and construct.
• Self-reported measures of handicap, control, and self provide valuable insight into patient experience.
• Findings support the use of multiple patient-perception constructs to guide and justify voice treatment.