Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Regarding Voice Disorders After Thyroid Surgery Among Surgeons in Southwestern Mainland China.

BACKGROUND

Thyroid diseases are highly prevalent, with the number of thyroid surgeries increasing annually. Surgeons emphasize the importance of preserving voice quality, and preoperative patient education and postoperative management are crucial to improve voice quality and prevent medicolegal issues. This study investigated thyroid surgeons' awareness of voice disorders post-thyroidectomy and their willingness for further education.

METHODS

A cross-sectional observational survey was conducted among thyroid surgeons in southwestern mainland China between June and August 2024, using a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed electronically via a QR code through multiple channels, including professional social media groups (eg, WeChat), thyroid surgery academic conferences, and targeted one-on-one invitations. Descriptive, correlation, and logistic analyses were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 208 surgeons, aged 23 to 59 years, participated. Preoperatively, 75% performed laryngoscopy on all patients, while 23.6% conducted it selectively, with 21.6% checking those with preoperative voice disorders. The most common symptom recognized was hoarseness (78.8%), and the least was dyspnea (5.3%). Videolaryngoscopy was the preferred assessment method (93.3%). Intraoperatively, 39.5% used intraoperative neuromonitoring in more than 50% of procedures. Postoperatively, 61.5% provided voice health education to all patients, and 76.0% performed selective laryngoscopy, primarily on those with postoperative voice disorders (66.8%). For follow-up, 40.4% chose four to six months, while 28.8% opted for follow-up beyond six months. Surgeons showed a positive attitude toward education on perioperative voice management.

CONCLUSIONS

This study reveals that despite deficiencies in knowledge regarding post-thyroidectomy voice disorders, surgeons generally demonstrate proactive clinical practices and willingness to pursue continuing education. These findings can provide valuable insights for improving training programs for future thyroidectomy practitioners.