Developing Educational Health Modules to Improve Vocal Wellness in Mask-Wearing Occupational Voice Users.
Victoria S McKenna, Renee L Gustin, Rebecca J Howell and 4 others
PMID 34969558WHAT IT FOUND
Four mask-wearing healthcare workers increased their use of hydration, posture, vocal naps and warm-ups after viewing free web modules, but reported vocal effort stayed the same.
The modules were understandable and actionable, yet did not reduce symptoms in this tiny pilot.
Key findings
01Participants increased their use of four recommended strategies (hydration, postural alignment, vocal naps, vocal warm-ups) from session 1 to session 2.
02Self-reported vocal effort did not change between sessions, remaining high overall.
03The educational modules scored above the threshold for adequate understandability and actionability.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
Only four participants completed the pilot, preventing formal statistical analysis. The study was a pilot, so it cannot determine if the modules work for the broader population of mask-wearing voice users. Participants were healthcare workers, who may have different communication demands than teachers or service workers. Most participants wore simple disposable masks, not N95s, which have a larger impact on speech. The follow-up period was only one week. Participants were not instructed to use the provided self-monitoring logs, which may have affected adherence.
Declared interests
None declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that these modules reduce vocal effort or tension. The pilot showed increased strategy use but no significant change in self-reported vocal effort, and the sample size was too small to draw firm conclusions about efficacy.