Objective: To investigate vocal health awareness, current conditions, and Voice Handicap Index (VHI-30) assessment outcomes among teachers spanning primary to senior high school in Shanghai China.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 89 teachers (82% female; mean age 34.1 years) from basic education schools (primary, junior and senior high). Instruments included the VHI-30 and questionnaires on awareness, motivation, and protective behaviors.
Results: The prevalence of self-reported voice disorders was 84.3%. The mean VHI-30 total score was 33.92±20.72, with the functional dimension most severely impacted (15.60±9.72). Chronic laryngitis was the most common condition (55.1%). Vocal health awareness correlated negatively with VHI-30 scores (importance: r=-0.237, p=0.025; treatment motivation: r=-0.317, p=0.003). Despite high awareness (7.15/10), few of them sought medical care, indicating a cognition-behavior gap. Teachers with higher health consciousness had significantly lower VHI scores.
Conclusions: Voice disorders are highly prevalent among Shanghai basic education teachers, with chronic laryngitis being predominant. Although awareness is generally high, healthcare-seeking behavior remains low. The negative correlation between awareness and voice handicap suggests potential benefits from educational intervention. The VHI-30 demonstrated high reliability in this population. These findings support the need for systematic voice health programs, regular screening, and accessible services for teachers.