Investigating the Relationship Between Medical History and General Health Status of Bank Workers With Voice Handicap Index and Vocal Fatigue Index

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The present study examined the relationship between the total score of the voice handicap index (VHI) and the total score and scores of the three factors of the vocal fatigue index (VFI) with the medical history of Melli bank workers working in Tehran and Kurdistan privences. Methods: The research is a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study that was conducted on 444 clerks of Melli Bank branches in Iran (76% male and 24% female with a mean age of 42.3). A demographic questionnaire, the medical history checklist, and the Persian version of VHI and VFI were used to collect data. Results: The voice handicap index had a significant relationship with a history of neurological (P=0.030) and head and neck (P=0.048) disorders, speech and language disorders (P=0.001), and reflux (P=0.041). Regarding vocal fatigue index, the total score had a significant relationship with head and neck (P=0.006) and speech and language disorders (P<0.001); the first factor with diseases of the head and neck (P=0.018), pharynx and larynx (P=0.005) and speech and language disorders (P=0.001), the second factor with neurological (P=0.020), head and neck (P=0.006), and speech and language disorders (P<0.001), and allergies (P=0.032), and finally, the third factor with neurological (0.044), pharynx and larynx (P=0.031), speech and language disorders (P=0.044), and reflux (P=0.021). Conclusion: Regardless of the respiratory system, suffering from diseases of the speech and language system can have a significant effect on the scores of the VHI and VFI indices. Meanwhile, the history of speech and language problems and head and neck disorders affect the total score of most factors of the VFI.