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A Cochrane systematic review of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for cancer pain.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published

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A Cochrane systematic review of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for cancer pain. / Robb, Karen; Oxberry, Stephen G.; Bennett, Michael I. et al.
In: Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, Vol. 37, No. 4, 04.2009, p. 746-753.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Harvard

Robb, K, Oxberry, SG, Bennett, MI, Johnson, MI, Simpson, KH & Searle, RD 2009, 'A Cochrane systematic review of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for cancer pain.', Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, vol. 37, no. 4, pp. 746-753. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2008.03.022

APA

Robb, K., Oxberry, S. G., Bennett, M. I., Johnson, M. I., Simpson, K. H., & Searle, R. D. (2009). A Cochrane systematic review of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for cancer pain. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 37(4), 746-753. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2008.03.022

Vancouver

Robb K, Oxberry SG, Bennett MI, Johnson MI, Simpson KH, Searle RD. A Cochrane systematic review of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for cancer pain. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 2009 Apr;37(4):746-753. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2008.03.022

Author

Robb, Karen ; Oxberry, Stephen G. ; Bennett, Michael I. et al. / A Cochrane systematic review of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for cancer pain. In: Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 2009 ; Vol. 37, No. 4. pp. 746-753.

Bibtex

@article{b6a8832f63814e0e9bed8a8eb900cabb,
title = "A Cochrane systematic review of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for cancer pain.",
abstract = "Cancer-related pain is complex and multi-dimensional; yet, the mainstay of cancer pain management has been the biomedical approach. There is a need for nonpharmacological and innovative pain management strategies. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) may have a role. The aim of this systematic review was to determine the effectiveness of TENS for cancer-related pain in adults. The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsychINFO, AMED, and PEDro databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the use of TENS for the management of cancer-related pain in adults. Once relevant studies were identified, two pairs of reviewers assessed eligibility for inclusion in the review based on a study eligibility form and using the 5-point Oxford Quality Scale. Two RCTs met the study eligibility criteria (these involved 64 patients). These studies were heterogeneous with respect to study population, methodology, and outcome measures. This prevented meta-analysis. In one RCT, there were no significant differences between TENS and placebo in women with chronic pain secondary to breast cancer treatment. In the other RCT, there were no significant differences between acupuncture-like TENS (AL-TENS) and sham in palliative care patients; this study was significantly underpowered. There is insufficient available evidence to determine the effectiveness of TENS in treating cancer-related pain. Further research is needed to help guide clinical practice, and large multi-center RCTs are required to assess the value of TENS in the management of cancer-related pain in adults.",
keywords = "TENS, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, cancer, systematic review, pain",
author = "Karen Robb and Oxberry, {Stephen G.} and Bennett, {Michael I.} and Johnson, {Mark I.} and Simpson, {Karen H.} and Searle, {Robert D.}",
year = "2009",
month = apr,
doi = "10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2008.03.022",
language = "English",
volume = "37",
pages = "746--753",
journal = "Journal of Pain and Symptom Management",
issn = "0885-3924",
publisher = "Elsevier Inc.",
number = "4",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - A Cochrane systematic review of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for cancer pain.

AU - Robb, Karen

AU - Oxberry, Stephen G.

AU - Bennett, Michael I.

AU - Johnson, Mark I.

AU - Simpson, Karen H.

AU - Searle, Robert D.

PY - 2009/4

Y1 - 2009/4

N2 - Cancer-related pain is complex and multi-dimensional; yet, the mainstay of cancer pain management has been the biomedical approach. There is a need for nonpharmacological and innovative pain management strategies. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) may have a role. The aim of this systematic review was to determine the effectiveness of TENS for cancer-related pain in adults. The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsychINFO, AMED, and PEDro databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the use of TENS for the management of cancer-related pain in adults. Once relevant studies were identified, two pairs of reviewers assessed eligibility for inclusion in the review based on a study eligibility form and using the 5-point Oxford Quality Scale. Two RCTs met the study eligibility criteria (these involved 64 patients). These studies were heterogeneous with respect to study population, methodology, and outcome measures. This prevented meta-analysis. In one RCT, there were no significant differences between TENS and placebo in women with chronic pain secondary to breast cancer treatment. In the other RCT, there were no significant differences between acupuncture-like TENS (AL-TENS) and sham in palliative care patients; this study was significantly underpowered. There is insufficient available evidence to determine the effectiveness of TENS in treating cancer-related pain. Further research is needed to help guide clinical practice, and large multi-center RCTs are required to assess the value of TENS in the management of cancer-related pain in adults.

AB - Cancer-related pain is complex and multi-dimensional; yet, the mainstay of cancer pain management has been the biomedical approach. There is a need for nonpharmacological and innovative pain management strategies. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) may have a role. The aim of this systematic review was to determine the effectiveness of TENS for cancer-related pain in adults. The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsychINFO, AMED, and PEDro databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the use of TENS for the management of cancer-related pain in adults. Once relevant studies were identified, two pairs of reviewers assessed eligibility for inclusion in the review based on a study eligibility form and using the 5-point Oxford Quality Scale. Two RCTs met the study eligibility criteria (these involved 64 patients). These studies were heterogeneous with respect to study population, methodology, and outcome measures. This prevented meta-analysis. In one RCT, there were no significant differences between TENS and placebo in women with chronic pain secondary to breast cancer treatment. In the other RCT, there were no significant differences between acupuncture-like TENS (AL-TENS) and sham in palliative care patients; this study was significantly underpowered. There is insufficient available evidence to determine the effectiveness of TENS in treating cancer-related pain. Further research is needed to help guide clinical practice, and large multi-center RCTs are required to assess the value of TENS in the management of cancer-related pain in adults.

KW - TENS

KW - transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

KW - cancer

KW - systematic review

KW - pain

U2 - 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2008.03.022

DO - 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2008.03.022

M3 - Journal article

VL - 37

SP - 746

EP - 753

JO - Journal of Pain and Symptom Management

JF - Journal of Pain and Symptom Management

SN - 0885-3924

IS - 4

ER -