The use of the URICA-VOICE questionnaire to identify the stages of adherence to voice treatment Escala URICA-VOZ para identificação de estágios de adesão ao tratamento de voz

Purpose: To adapt the URICA questionnaire to assess the motivational stages of patients undergoing voice treatment, and to determine the association between these stages with age, type of dysphonia, level of education, profession, and number of voice therapy sessions. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed, using a convenience sample composed of 66 dysphonic patients – 58 women and eight men – aged from 18 to 68 years, who were enrolled in outpatient care at two federal universities. As an exploratory tool, the URICA questionnaire was adapted to the area of voice, based on specific situations related to vocal behaviors. This questionnaire was named URICA-VOICE. It was administered individually and subjected to analyses. Results: Most patients, 38 (57.6%), were in the contemplation stage, 20 (30.3%) were in the pre-contemplation, and only eight (12.1%) in the action stage, which is ideal to voice therapy. There was no association between adherence stages and the variables age, type of dysphonia, level of education, and number of voice therapy sessions. The variable profession was associated with the action stage of the URICA-VOICE. Conclusion: The URICA-VOICE showed that most dysphonic patients undergoing treatment are still in the contemplation stage, which may limit therapy outcomes. There was no relationship between the other variables and the adherence stages of the URICA-VOICE questionnaire.