None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
University teaching staff are at increased risk of vocal fatigue and voice disorders due to high occupational voice demands. This pilot randomised controlled trial will evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of supplementing a standard Voice Care Programme with a mindfulness-based intervention. Sixty University of Melbourne teaching staff with vocal fatigue will be randomly allocated to either a Voice Care Programme alone or a Voice Care Programme plus mindfulness intervention. Feasibility outcomes will include recruitment, retention, adherence, and participant acceptability. Preliminary effectiveness outcomes will include vocal fatigue, voice quality, phonation threshold pressure, psychological distress, interoceptive awareness, and burnout.
Interventions
Participants allocated to the intervention group will receive a structured mindfulness-based intervention in addition to the standard Voice Care Program provided to both study groups.
The mindfulness intervention will commence concurrently with the Voice Care Program following completion of baseline assessments and randomisation. It consists of six face-to-face group sessions delivered over a 6-week period by an experienced mindfulness instructor. Each session is approximately 100-120 minutes i
Participants allocated to the intervention group will receive a structured mindfulness-based intervention in addition to the standard Voice Care Program provided to both study groups. The mindfulness intervention will commence concurrently with the Voice Care Program following completion of baseline assessments and randomisation. It consists of six face-to-face group sessions delivered over a 6-week period by an experienced mindfulness instructor. Each session is approximately 100-120 minutes in duration and includes guided mindfulness meditation practices, experiential exercises, facilitated group discussion, and instructions for home practice. The curriculum progressively develops mindfulness skills through breath awareness, focused attention, body awareness, emotional regulation, self-compassion, and the application of mindfulness to stress management and wellbeing. Participants will be encouraged to undertake optional home mindfulness practice between sessions and will be asked to complete brief weekly practice logs to monitor adherence to home practice. The study will be conducted at the University of Melbourne, Australia.
Sponsors
University of Melbourne
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Educational / counselling / training
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1-Currently employed as teaching staff at the University of Melbourne (e.g. lecturer, tutor, academic staff member, or sessional teaching staff). 2-Currently undertaking teaching duties during Semester 2, 2026. 3-Score of 11 or higher on the Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI), indicating increased risk of voice disorders. 4-Limited prior meditation experience (fewer than 25 hours of meditation practice in the previous 6 months and no participation in a structured mindfulness-based intervention within the previous 10 years).
Exclusion criteria
1- Currently receiving specialist voice therapy. 2- Currently participating in a structured mindfulness-based intervention or meditation training programme. 3- Recent bereavement or a major personal loss, or severe anxiety, depression, or another serious mental or physical health condition that may affect their ability to engage with the intervention or study procedures. 4- Unable to attend intervention sessions or complete study assessments.
Outcome results
None listed