Effect of Socioeconomic and Patient-Related Factors on Abidance and Adherence to Voice Therapy in Lebanese Patients With Voice Disorders.

Abstract

Objective: To examine the rate of abidance and adherence to voice therapy (VT) in a group of Lebanese patients with voice disorders, and to analyze the correlation between the rate of abidance, adherence, and socioeconomic factors in addition to patient- and disease-related factors.

Study design: Retrospective chart review.

Methods: The medical records of patients with voice disorders who presented to the voice unit in a tertiary referral center between January 2022 and December 2023 were reviewed. All patients referred to voice therapy selected were included in this study. Patients were stratified into those who abided to voice therapy and those who did not. Patients who abided to voice therapy were further divided into two subgroups: those who adhered to VT and those who did not.

Results: A total of 236 patients with voice disorders were referred to VT, with only 51 attending VT, resulting in a 21.6% abidance rate. Of the 51 patients who attended VT, only 25 completed the therapy sessions, yielding a 55.6% adherence rate. Younger age and higher education level were positively correlated with adherence (r = 0.382, P = 0.01 and r = 0.506, P < 0.001, respectively). Disease-related factors showed a moderate negative correlation between high Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) scores and adherence (r = -0.687, P < 0.001). Functional voice disorders were associated with higher adherence rates compared with structural or neurologic voice disorders (P = 0.014).

Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the rate of abidance to VT in a group of Lebanese patients with dysphonia is low. Otolaryngologists referring dysphonic patients to VT should take into account the main factors affecting this low rate and account for alternative treatment plan in case one or more of these deterring factors are present.