The Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation in Patients with Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Randomized Controlled Trial.
Author: Öncü E1, Zincir H2
Affiliation:
1Mersin University School of Health Sciences, Community Health Nursing Department Mersin, TURKEY.
2Erciyes University Faculty of Health Sciences, Community Health Nursing Department Central Campus KAYSERİ, TURKEY.
Conference/Journal: J Clin Nurs.
Date published: 2016 Jun 21
Other:
Special Notes: doi: 10.1111/jocn.13450. [Epub ahead of print] , Word Count: 319
AIMS: The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD).
BACKGROUND: In patients with stable COPD, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) has been known to attain improvement in FEV1 , physical activity, and quality of life. However, information about the effects of TENS on AECOPD is quite limited.
DESIGN: A single-blind, randomized controlled trial.
METHODS: Data were collected between August 2013 and May 2014. Eighty-two patients who were hospitalized with a diagnosis of AECOPD were randomly assigned to a TENS group receiving TENS treatment for 20 seance over the acupuncture points with pharmacotherapy or placebo group receiving the same treatment without electrical current output from the TENS device. Pulmonary functional test (PFT), 6-min walking distance (6MWD), dyspnea and fatigue scale, and St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) scores were assessed pre and post-program. The program started at the hospital by the researcher was sustained in the patient's home by the caregiver.
RESULTS: All patients were able to complete the program, despite the exacerbation. The 20 seance TENS program provided clinically significant improvement in FEV1 21mL, 19.51% but when compared with the placebo group, the difference was insignificant (p> 0.05). The 6MWD increased by 48.10 m more in the placebo group (p<0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups' SGRQ, dyspnea and fatigue score (p> 0.05).
CONCLUSION: Adding TENS therapy to pharmacotherapy in patients with AECOPD provided clinical improvement in FEV1 and add benefit in exercise capacity, but no significant effect on the other outcomes measured.
RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: TENS can be used as a non-invasive complementary therapy due to its beneficial effects on FEV1 and exercise capacity in patients with AECOPD. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS: Acute exacerbation; pulmonary functions; randomized controlled trial; transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
PMID: 27325551 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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