Document Type
Capstone Experience
Graduation Date
12-2020
Degree Name
Master of Public Health
Department
Health Promotion
First Committee Member
Dr. Melissa Tibbits
Second Committee Member
Dr. Paul Estabrooks
Third Committee Member
Dr. Jayme Dowdall
Abstract
There is a medical consensus that proper voice health precautions can protect the voice and decrease the occurrence and severity of voice disorders in vocal performers. Similarly, seeking medical treatment for voice disorders can speed recovery time and preserve the voice. Voice disorders are common in performance students and professionals because of demanding curricula and frequent voice use, but little is known about their voice care needs, preferred voice care resources, and clinical care. The purpose of this study was to add to the research on voice health by interviewing faculty members in the College of Communication, Fine Arts, and Media at UNO. Faculty members were asked about voice health among the performance community and their students. Additionally, participants were asked about the type and amount of voice health education provided to students at the college. Participants were interviewed utilizing Zoom or telephone; interviews lasted approximately one hour. Participants answered questions about voice health education and protocols at UNO and potential barriers to voice health care. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. Analysis of the data included coding transcribed interviews and summarizing information about key themes. We found that participants had similar definitions of voice health and all previously had voice health training, most through a college education or private voice lessons. Overall, participants felt that financial burdens or lack of insurance was the greatest barrier to voice health care. Participants voiced resources such as a vocal care network, performance lab, or medical professional guest lecturers would be useful to improve voice health information and education at UNO.
Recommended Citation
Nelson, Katelyn, "Perceptions of voice health, voice health care, and voice health education in the performance community" (2020). Capstone Experience. 130.
https://digitalcommons.unmc.edu/coph_slce/130