OBJECTIVE: To determine the presence or absence of gross laryngeal or vocal cord pathology during endoscopic examination and determine if there is a relationship between these findings, the number of years in teaching, and the presence of other risk factors among teachers in a public secondary school in Bacolod City.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional Study

SETTING: Secondary Public School in Bacolod City, Philippines.

PARTICIPANTS: A total of 50 school teachers participated in the study conducted from July 2016 to May 2017. They completed a questionnaire on demographic data, professional profile and lifestyle profile and underwent laryngoscopic examination.

RESULTS: The most common pathologic laryngoscopic findings were vocal fold nodule (12%), swollen arytenoids (10%), paretic vocal cords (6%) aqnd epiglottic mass (6%). There was no significant relationship between laryngoscopic findings and number of years teaching (X2 = 0.103, df = 1, p = .748). However, there was a significantrelationship between laryngoscopic, smoking (X2 = 6.419, df = 1, p = .011) and daily water intake (X2 = 10.208, df = 2, p = .006).

CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study suggest that in terms of voice care, public school teachers may benefit from avoidance of smoking and increased water intake.

Human ; Male ; Female ; School Teachers ; Hoarseness ; Voice ; Vocal Cords ; Laryngoscopy

Objective: To determine the presence or absence of gross laryngeal or vocal cord pathology during endoscopic examination and determine if there is a relationship between these findings, the number of years in teaching, and the presence of other risk factors among teachers in a public secondary school in Bacolod City.

 

Methods

Study Design:      Cross-sectional study

Setting:                 Secondary public school in Bacolod City, Philippines          

Participants:        A total of 50 school teachers participated in the study, conducted from July 2016 to May 2017. They completed a questionnaire on demographic data, professional profile, and lifestyle profile and underwent laryngoscopic examination.

 

Results: The most common pathologic laryngoscopic findings were vocal fold nodule (12%), swollen arytenoids (10%), paretic vocal cords (6%) and epiglottic mass (6%). There was no significant relationship between laryngoscopic findings and number of years teaching (X2 = 0.103, df = 1, p = .748. However, there was a significant relationship between laryngoscopic findings, smoking (X2 = 6.419, df = 1, p = .011) and daily water intake (X2 = 10.208, df = 2, p =.006).

 

Conclusions: Results of this study suggest that in terms of voice care, public school teachers may benefit from avoidance of smoking and increased water intake.

 

Keywords:  teachers, vocal cord, hoarseness, voice, laryngoscopy, videostroboscopy

 

Human ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged (a Person 45-64 Years Of Age) ; Adult (a Person 19-44 Years Of Age) ; Hoarseness ; Voice

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the timing of tracheostomy and relationship to outcomes (length of hospital stay, length of mechanical ventilation, morbidity and mortality rate) in adults with moderate and severe tetanus. 

METHODS:

            Design:           Cross-Sectional Study

            Setting:           Tertiary Government Training Hospital

            Patients:         All adult patients (19 years old and above) diagnosed with moderate and    severe stage tetanus from January 2015 to January 2018 were considered for inclusion.

RESULTS: There were 109 patients included in this study, majority were males (n=95) with a male to female ratio of 7:1. Most belonged to the 51-60 years age group (mean: 53.7 SD: +/-16.1). Based on Cole Tetanus staging, the majority presented with severe stage tetanus (67.9%; n=74). Only 35.8% (n=39) were admitted at the Intensive Care Unit. Early tracheostomy was performed in 56.0% (n=61) of the patients (mean 6.3 hours SD: +/- 4.61). Mortality rate was noted to be 52.3% (n=57). Overall, early tracheostomy among moderate to severe stage tetanus patients showed shorter length of hospital stay and length of mechanical ventilation than  late tracheostomy (tracheostomy >24 hours) (p-value < .05). However, no significant difference was noted for timing of tracheostomy in terms of morbidity and mortality rate (p-value > .05).

CONCLUSION: Early tracheostomy within less than 24 hours from time of admission for moderate and severe tetanus is associated with shorter length of hospital stay and mechanical ventilation than late tracheostomy, and may play a role in tetanus management.

KEYWORDS: tracheostomy; tetanus; hospital stay; mechanical ventilation; morbidity; mortality

Human ; Male ; Female ; Aged 80 And Over ; Aged (a Person 65 Through 79 Years Of Age) ; Middle Aged (a Person 45-64 Years Of Age) ; Tetanus ; Length Of Stay ; Morbidity ; Mortality