Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Voice Disorders After Thyroid Surgery: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Patients in Southwestern Mainland China.

BACKGROUND

It is not clear to what extent patients with thyroid disease are knowledgeable about voice health. This study investigated patients' awareness and practices concerning voice disorders post-thyroidectomy and their willingness for further education.

METHODS

This study was a cross-sectional observational survey conducted at the Department of Thyroid Surgery, West China Tian Fu Hospital, between February and May in 2024. The questionnaire consists of four sections; descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, and logistic analysis were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 248 participants were included, with 94% of participants reporting no dysphonia at present but expressing concern about postoperative voice change (with an average anxiety level of 6.43 out of 10). Among all participants, 53.2% were aware of postoperative voice change as a complication before hospitalization, and this percentage increased to 85.5% after surgery. A total of 77.8% of them reported that undergoing an examination before surgery was "absolutely necessary" or "necessary." Participants have limited understanding of the symptoms of voice disorders, methods of voice assessment, and causes of postoperative voice disorders. The most common source of knowledge was preoperative conversations with surgeons (63.3%). However, participants exhibited a positive attitude toward the treatment of voice disorders after thyroid surgery (87.5%) and were willing to receive knowledge on vocal hygiene (91.9%).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, participants displayed inadequate knowledge about voice disorders following thyroid surgery but took proactive steps to manage it. They generally preferred conservative treatment options for postoperative voice disorders. Additionally, the results revealed a strong interest among patients in receiving further education on managing voice disorders after surgery. Therefore, enhancing education can help facilitate timely medical consultations for patients with postoperative voice disorders and improve their overall postoperative quality of life.