Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and Head and Neck Cancer Pain (HNC) (TENS & HNC)

NCT01194466 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 41

Last updated 2019-09-17

Study results available
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Summary

The overall goal of this study is to examine the effect of a single dose of TENS on mucositis pain and function secondary to head and neck radiation therapies. Oral mucositis is an extremely debilitating, unpreventable condition (inflammation, ulcers, bleeding in the mouth, nose, and throat) that causes significant pain, functional impairment, and diminished quality of life. Head and neck cancers pose specific challenges to effective pain management and past studies suggest the use of effective non-pharmacologic strategies such as TENS may be particularly beneficial for avoiding sources of acute and chronic pain, thereby improving quality of life. The investigators hypothesize that a single dose of TENS will decrease pain and improve function and quality of life in head and neck cancer patients. This project is particularly innovative because it is the first known study to examine the efficacy of TENS, an established safe, inexpensive and easy-to-use non-pharmacologic pain management intervention, for treating acute oral mucositis pain. The investigators research translates bench (animal model) science to human subjects using an interdisciplinary approach to pain management. Establishing whether TENS is effective for reducing mucositis pain is a critical first step toward establishing an effective, non-pharmacologic pain relief intervention for mucositis.

Conditions

  • Head Cancer
  • Neck Cancer
  • Pain

Interventions

DEVICE

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)

Four adhesive electrodes (1.375in x 1.375in) will be placed bilaterally on the: 1) temporomandibular joint (1/3rd of distance between ear and nose); and 2) upper neck area (2cm from spine, i.e., Cervical 1 and 2).

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Jennifer E. Lee

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Jennifer E Lee, PhD · University of Iowa

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Model
CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
90 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2011-05-15
Primary Completion
2012-08-14
Completion
2012-08-14
FDA Device
Yes

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT01194466 on ClinicalTrials.gov