Date of Award

2014

Degree Type

Selective Evidence-Based Medicine Review

Degree Name

Master of Science in Health Sciences - Physician Assistant

Department Chair

John Cavenagh, PhD, PA-C

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not use of electroanalgesic therapy decreases neuropathic pain symptoms in diabetic patients

STUDY DESIGN: Review of a 2 randomized control trial published in 2013 and 2011 published in the English language and an observational study published in 2010 in the German language translated into English.

DATA SOURCES: One randomized, double-blind control trial comparing frequency-modulated electromagnetic stimulation vs placebo in reduction of diabetic neuropathic pain, one randomized, control trial comparing microcurrent transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation vs placebo in reduction of painful diabetic neuropathy and a observational study using baseline comparison of the observed group at the beginning of the treatment vs the end of the treatment.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Pain is measured through various scales administered in their respective studies. The Visual Analogue Scale was used to measure day and night pain, the Neuropathic Pain Score administered to assess pain intensity and the Thermal Sensory Analyzer to assess cold, warmth, cold pain and heat pain.

RESULTS: Bosi et al. demonstrated significant reduction in day and night pain in treatment group vs placebo group. Gossrau et al. did not conclude that applied transcutaneous electrotherapy showed superior reduction of pain compared to placebo group. Moharic and Burger concluded there were no statistically significant changes or thermal pain perception thresholds after transcutaneous electrotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS: Although some pain relief was reported by participants in these studies, collectively, all three studies have were unable to exhibit significant evidence of lasting DPN pain relief using electroanalgesic treatment.

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