A survey of the attitudes and beliefs about the use of TENS for pain management by physiotherapists working in two cities in Sri Lanka

Figures & data

Figure 1 TENS device and accessories.

Abbreviation: TENS, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.

Table 1 Responses to questions related to types and severity of pain

Pain types/conditions	Respondents per response, n (%)
	Very often	Often	Occasionally	Seldom	Not at all
Q3a: For which types of pain do you use TENS?
• Acute	16 (23.9)	21 (31.3)	2 (3.0)	11 (16.4)	17 (25.4)
• Subacute	6 (8.95)	35 (52.2)	14 (20.9)	8 (11.9)	4 (6.0)
• Chronic	9 (13.4)	28 (41.8)	29 (43.3)	1 (1.5)	0 (0)
Q3b: For which types of pain do you use TENS?
• Mild	6 (9.2)	9 (13.85)	23 (35.4)	8 (12.3)	19 (29.2)
• Mild to moderate	8 (12.3)	8 (12.3)	25 (38.5)	19 (29.2)	5 (7.7)
• Moderate	0 (0)	24 (36.9)	23 (35.4)	12 (18.5)	6 (9.2)
• Moderate to severe	10 (15.4)	27 (41.5)	22 (33.85)	0 (0)	6 (9.2)
• Severe	17 (26.15)	29 (44.6)	11 (16.9)	0 (0)	8 (12.3)
Q4: For which conditions do you commonly use TENS?
• Musculoskeletal/orthopedic	21 (31.3)	20 (29.85)	15 (22.4)	4 (6.0)	7 (10.45)
• Neuropathy/neuralgia	16 (23.9)	37 (55.2)	7 (10.45)	3 (4.5)	4 (6.0)
• Postsurgical	8 (11.9)	6 (8.95)	26 (38.8)	16 (23.9)	11 (16.4)
• Cancer pain	0 (0)	1 (1.5)	4 (6.0)	15 (22.4)	47 (70.1)
• Other pains (eg, dysmenorrhea)	0 (0)	0 (0)	10 (14.9)	22 (32.8)	35 (52.2)

Note: There were 67 respondents for all questions except Q3b, for which there were 65 respondents.

Abbreviation: TENS, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.

Figure 2 Responses to Q6: “Do you recommend/prescribe TENS to patients in pain at home?”.

Abbreviation: TENS, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.

Figure 3 Responses to Q7: “Does your referring physician advise you to use TENS for pain relief?”.

Abbreviation: TENS, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.

Figure 4 Responses to Q10: “Do you think TENS treatment is cost-effective compared with other treatments?”.

Abbreviation: TENS, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.