Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Postoperative Vocal Dysfunction Among Patients With Pulmonary Diseases in Southwestern Mainland China: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to investigate knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding vocal dysfunction among patients with pulmonary diseases.

Methods: An electronic questionnaire consisting of 24 items in four sections was designed and distributed to patients with pulmonary diseases at the lung cancer center of West China Tian Fu Hospital from June 2024 to December 2024.

Results: Among the 253 patients, 154 (60.9%) had learned about the risk of postoperative vocal dysfunction before their hospitalization, 224 (88.5%) were informed of the risk of postoperative vocal dysfunction during their hospitalization, 130 (51.4%) believed that intraoperative iatrogenic injury to phonatory nerves was one of the causes of postoperative vocal dysfunction, and 75 (29.6%) were aware of the correlation between surgery location and vocal dysfunction. More than half of the participants (n = 144, 56.9%) acquired knowledge about postoperative vocal dysfunction during preoperative discussion with surgeons, and 219 (86.6%) participants were willing to receive relevant knowledge. While only a few participants had heard about videolaryngoscopy (n = 82, 32.4%), many participants held positive (n = 71, 28.1%) or neutral attitudes (n = 100, 39.5%) about laryngoscopy before pulmonary surgery. When asked whether they would seek medical help promptly if they experienced vocal dysfunction after pulmonary surgery, 216 (85.4%) participants chose "Yes," and most of them would prefer conservative treatment rather than surgical treatment. The most frequently mentioned reason among 37 participants who would not seek medical help was "Vocal dysfunction may gradually improve without medical intervention" (n = 16, 6.3%).

Conclusions: Patients with pulmonary diseases demonstrated limited awareness of postoperative vocal dysfunction despite receiving standard instructions during hospitalization. Implementing online patient education programs, preoperative risk counseling in outpatient settings, and multidisciplinary care pathways could improve the diagnosis and management of this complication.