Total laryngectomy affects the speaking functions of many patients. Speech deprivation has great impacts on the quality of life of patients, especially on self-efficacy. Learning esophageal speech represents a way to help laryngectomees speak again. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of collective esophageal speech training on self-efficacy of laryngectomees. In this study, 28 patients and 30 family members were included. The participants received information about training via telephone or a WeChat group. Collective esophageal speech training was used to educate laryngectomees on esophageal speech. Before and after collective esophageal speech training, all participants completed the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) to assess their perceptions on self-efficacy. Through the training, laryngectomees recovered their speech. After the training, the self-efficacy scores of laryngectomees were higher than those before the training, with significant differences noted (T<0.05). However, family members' scores did not change significantly. In conclusion, collective esophageal speech training is not only convenient and economical, but also improves self-efficacy and confidence of laryngectomees. Greater self-efficacy is helpful for laryngectomees to master esophageal speech and improve their quality of life. In addition, more attention should be focused on improving the self-efficacy of family members and making them give full play to their talent and potential on laryngectomees' voice rehabilitation.
Keywords: collective training; esophageal speech; laryngectomees; quality of life; self-efficacy.