Scoping Review of Voice Therapy Adherence

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this scoping review was to summarize key findings in the voice therapy adherence literature for individuals with phonotraumatic lesions. The particular focus was to identify how adherence has been defined and measured (operationalization and criteria for successful adherence) and to describe variables which were found to have a positive, neutral, or negative relationship with adherence to voice therapy.

Methods: Data were identified and charted using the PRISMA-ScR protocol via searches of CINAHL, PsycINFO, Pubmed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science.

Results: Literature mining revealed that adherence is rarely defined but is usually operationalized. "Successful completion of therapy" was the most common operationalization. Most variables studied in this field have been found to have no relationship with adherence. An incidental finding was that, most frequently, researchers have repeatedly studied variables which have already been documented to have no relationship with adherence.

Conclusion: Research into voice therapy adherence is still emerging, and few if any variables have been identified which are strongly associated with adherence to voice therapy for people with phonotraumatic lesions. Inspiration for future research may be drawn from other disciplines, which point to relationship variables as central to the adherence process. Examination of such variables is currently underrepresented in the voice therapy literature; we suggest this and other gaps for pursuit in future research.

Keywords: Voice— Therapy— Treatment— Adherence— Compliance— Engagement.