RESEARCH Clinical usefulness of ‘vocal fremitus’ and ‘vocal resonance’ Kyaw San Hla MMedSc, MRCP, FRACP, is Senior Lecturer and staff physician, James Cook University, Mackay Base GP perceptions and practice Hospital, Queensland. kyaw.
[email protected] Assessment of vocal fremitus (VF) and vocal resonance The study was approved by the Ethics Committee at Mackay (VR) (whereby vocal vibrations are felt or heard during Base Hospital. a clinical examination) is an established part of physical examination of the respiratory system. Textbooks on Results clinical examination include these procedures as part of Sixty-seven responses were obtained (64 GPs and three the standard method.1–3 general practice registrars), providing a response rate of approximately 70%. Forty-four respondents (65.7%) Undergraduate and postgraduate candidates are required rarely performed VF/VR as part of routine chest examination to perform VF and VR when they undertake qualifying (Figure 1). 50 44 assessments, however the reliability of findings from More than half (53.7%) 40 these procedures is controversial.4 It is also unusual to disagreed with the statement 30 see experienced doctors performing VF/VR during actual that ‘routine inclusion of either chest examination. The author of the only identifiable study VF or VR on chest examination Count 20 9 on clinicians’ attitudes toward VF/VR (which had only 14 is desirable’ (with 11.9% strongly 10 6 2 3 3 respondents) remarked ‘it will be rare to see physicians disagreeing). More than a quarter 0 near about about about about rarely doing both or even one of them although the majority has (28%) remained neutral.