Hoarseness and vocal tract discomfort and associated risk factors in air traffic controllers

Abstract Introduction: An air traffic controller is a professional who performs air traffic control functions in air traffic control units and is responsible for controlling the various stages of a flight. Objective: To compare hoarseness and vocal tract discomfort and their risk factors among air traffic controllers in the approach control of São Paulo. Methods: In a cross-sectional survey, a voice self-evaluation adapted from to self-evaluation prepared by the Brazilian Ministry of Labor for teachers was administered to 76 air traffic controllers at approach control of São Paulo, Brazil. Results: The percentage of hoarseness and vocal tract discomfort was 19.7% and 38.2%, respectively. In relation to air pollution, the percentages of hoarseness and vocal tract discomfort were higher among those who consider their working environment to be intolerable than among those in a comfortable or disturbing environment. The percentage of hoarseness was higher among those who seek medical advice due to vocal complaints and among those who experience difficulty using their voice at work than among those who experience mild or no difficulty. The percentage of vocal tract discomfort was higher among those in a very tense and stressful environment than among those who consider their work environment to be mild or moderately tense and stressful. The percentage of vocal tract discomfort was higher among those who describe themselves as very tense and stressed or tense and stressed than among those who describe themselves as calm. Additionally, the percentage of vocal tract discomfort was higher among those who care about their health. Conclusion: Among air traffic controllers, the percentage of vocal tract discomfort was almost twice that of hoarseness. Both symptoms are prevalent among air traffic controllers who considered their workplace intolerable in terms of air pollution. Vocal tract discomfort was related to a tense and stressful environment, and hoarseness was related to difficulty using the voice at work.

引言：空中交通管制员（air traffic controller）是在空管单位履行空中交通管制职能、负责管控航班各运行阶段的专业从业人员。研究目的：对比圣保罗进近管制部门空中交通管制员的嗓音嘶哑、声道不适症状及其危险因素。研究方法：针对巴西圣保罗进近管制部门的76名空中交通管制员开展横断面调查，采用改编自巴西劳工部为教师制定的嗓音自我评估量表进行调研。研究结果：嗓音嘶哑与声道不适的检出率分别为19.7%与38.2%。在空气污染相关因素中，认为工作环境难以忍受的管制员，其嗓音嘶哑与声道不适检出率均高于工作环境舒适或存在干扰的管制员。因嗓音不适就医以及工作中存在发声困难的管制员，其嗓音嘶哑检出率均高于仅有轻微发声困难或无发声困难者。认为工作环境高度紧张、压力极大的管制员，其声道不适检出率高于认为工作环境轻度或中度紧张受压者。自认为高度紧张受压或中度紧张受压的管制员，其声道不适检出率高于自认为情绪平稳者。此外，关注自身健康状况的管制员，其声道不适检出率更高。研究结论：本次受访的空中交通管制员中，声道不适检出率几乎为嗓音嘶哑检出率的两倍。在认为工作环境因空气污染难以忍受的管制员中，两类症状均较为普遍。声道不适与工作环境紧张高压相关，而嗓音嘶哑则与工作中发声困难相关。