Factors associated with voice-related quality of life among teachers with voice complaints

• Severity of voice complaints was identified as being associated with the scores.
• Economic consequences of voice complaints showed similar associations with the scores.
• The V-RQOL and VAPP scores were strongly associated with one another.
• The scores showed high agreement with regard to self-perception of quality of life.

This study evaluates whether the scores on the voice-related quality of life (V-RQOL) and voice activity and participation profile (VAPP) instruments show similar associations with socio-demographic characteristics, voice complaint characteristics, work-related factors, health conditions and consequences of voice complaints; and to assess agreement between V-RQOL and VAPP. In 12 primary and secondary public schools in Bogotá, we conducted a cross-sectional study among 438 Colombian school teachers with voice complaints. Participants filled out a questionnaire on socio-demographic characteristics, voice complaint characteristics, work-related factors, health conditions, economic consequences of voice complaints, and voice-related quality of life, which was assessed using the V-RQOL and the VAPP. The factors associated with the scores on the V-RQOL and VAAP were analysed using multiple linear regression. Assessment of agreement between the V-RQOL and VAPP scores was performed using the Bland–Altman plot. Simple linear regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between VAPP and V-RQOL. Results showed that individual and work-related factors that were associated with the scores derived from the questionnaires were similar for the two instruments, namely severity of voice complaints, auditory symptoms, hearing impairment, class size, and poor acoustics in the workplace. The associations between the score and the economic consequences of voice complaints were also similar for the two instruments. The V-RQOL and VAPP scores were strongly associated with one another and showed high agreement with regard to teachers’ perception of quality of life. These findings suggest that factors identified as being associated with the scores on the V-RQOL and VAPP are shared by the two instruments, showing that their approaches to quality-of-life assessment are similar. Both scales were strongly associated with one another and showed high agreement.Learning outcomes: Identify factors associated with scores on voice-related quality of life (V-RQOL) and voice activity and participation profile (VAPP). Identify whether the scores on V-RQOL and VAPP show similar associations with individual and work-related factors. Explain agreement between the scores on V-RQOL and VAPP.