An Exploratory Study on the Effectiveness of ;;Scrambler Therapy” in Patients with Cancer Pain: a pilot study

Cancer pain;Numeric rating scale;Noninvasive approach;Scrambler therapy;615

의과대학 협동과정임상약리학전공 ;

University:서울대학교 대학원

关键词: Cancer pain;    Numeric rating scale;    Noninvasive approach;    Scrambler therapy;    615;   

Others  :  http://s-space.snu.ac.kr/bitstream/10371/132323/1/000000016766.pdf

美国|英语

来源: Seoul National University Open Repository

【 摘 要 】

IntroductionScrambler therapy is a novel approach for pain control that uses EKG-like pads, which are applied above and below the site of pain. It is a method to control pain that attempts to relieve pain by providing ;;non-pain” information via cutaneous nerves to block the effect of pain information. So it is necessary to evaluate effects of scrambler therapy to widen clinical range of management. We performed an exploratory study on the effectiveness of ;;scrambler therapy” in patients with various cancer pain syndromes.Material and methodEleven cancer patients diagnosed with cancer-related metastatic bone pain (n = 5), chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (n = 4), postherpetic neuralgia (n = 1) and postradiotherapy pain (n = 1) were analyzed in the study. Scrambler therapy was applied for 40 minutes (one treatment per day) during the ten consecutive days to these patients. The primary endpoint was an 11-point numerical rating scale (NRS) pain score during the therapy and at one month after the procedure. The secondary endpoint was Likert scale, satisfaction scale, change of opioid consumption dose and brief pain inventory (BPI).Result NRS are significantly decreased in the patients with cancer pain syndromes during the scrambler therapy (p-value=0.009) and pain relief was sustained at least two weeks after the 10th treatment. Even though regular opioid dose was not changed remarkably, the consumption of rescue opioid was reduced significantly (p-value = 0.01) than initial consumption dose of rescue opioid. All components of BPI except normal work (p-value = 0.066) are improved than before treatment.ConclusionScrambler therapy was helpful to relieve cancer-related pain. We assessed NRS, Likert scales, satisfaction scales, BPI and checked dose of opioid consumption. Consequently breakthrough pain was relieved than background pain more. Breakthrough pain relief made quality of life improve in cancer pain syndromes. It was revealed through BPI which several components associated with quality of life were improved. However, the mechanism of pain scrambler therapy was unknown yet. Further evaluations about scrambler therapy will be needed to explain exact mechanism. Also, a small number of patients and no control group were limitations of this study.