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fitness 14 hours ago

Effects of vocal hygiene education program delivered via videoconference on acoustic and self-reported voice outcomes in Muslim religious officials in Turkiye

This study examined the effects of a vocal hygiene education program delivered via videoconference on voice quality and self-perceived vocal outcomes among Muslim religious officials in Turkiye. The participants were 26 imams, aged between 28 and 51 years. All participants completed a seven-week study procedure, consisting of two structured videoconference-based vocal hygiene sessions and a four-week vocal hygiene implementation period. Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL), Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10), Acoustic Voice Quality Index Version 2.06 (AVQIv2), jitter, shimmer, and harmonics-to-noise ratio (HNR) were assessed before and after the program. V-RQOL scores increased from 82.60 ± 19.91 to 89.23 ± 11.61 (p = 0.006). VHI-10 scores declined from 9.58 ± 5.24 to 5.96 ± 4.43 (p < 0.001), and AVQIv2 scores decreased from 3.12 ± 0.85 to 2.35 ± 0.61 (p < 0.001). Jitter, shimmer, and HNR values showed improvement but did not reach statistical significance. These findings suggest that vocal hygiene education delivered via videoconference was associated with favorable changes in self-reported outcomes and AVQIv2 scores, among Muslim religious officials.

fitness 14 hours ago

Differences in emergency ambulance use between older and younger individuals in Denmark: a nationwide register-based study

As populations age, the demand for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is rising, yet differences in ambulance use between age groups remain insufficiently understood. This nationwide register-based study examined all ambulance dispatches in Denmark from 2018 to 2024, comparing contacts from older (≥ 65 years) and younger (< 65 years) individuals. Contacts from older individuals accounted for over half of all dispatches and had ambulance use rates more than four times higher than those of younger individuals. Despite this, they were less often assigned to the highest urgency level and more frequently presented with symptoms such as decreased consciousness, paralysis, or dizziness. In contrast, chest pain was most common among younger individuals. Repeated ambulance use was significantly more prevalent among older individuals. These findings suggest that older individuals have distinct patterns of EMS use, underscoring the need for age-sensitive triage and planning to meet the evolving demands of an aging population.

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