This randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study aims to evaluate the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on acute postoperative pain, sleep quality, and quality of life in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Participants will be randomly assigned to either an active TENS group or a sham TENS group. TENS treatment will be administered twice daily for 30 minutes over three consecutive days beginning 24 hours after surgery. Pain intensity, sleep quality, and quality of life will be assessed at predefined time points to determine the effectiveness of TENS as an adjunctive postoperative pain management strategy.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
90
Active transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is administered in addition to standard postoperative care. Four electrodes are placed around the surgical site. Electrical stimulation is delivered at a frequency of 100 Hz with a pulse width of 200 microseconds for 30 minutes per session, twice daily for three consecutive days. The stimulation intensity is adjusted to the highest level tolerated without discomfort.
Sham transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) uses identical electrode placement and treatment procedures as the active TENS intervention but delivers no therapeutic electrical stimulation. Participants continue to receive standard postoperative care.
Yuan's General Hospital
Kaohsiung City, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
RECRUITINGPain intensity (Numeric Rating Scale, NRS)
Pain intensity will be assessed using the 11-point Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.
Time frame: Preoperative baseline; 24 hours after initiation of the intervention; 72 hours after initiation of the intervention; and on the day of hospital discharge.
Sleep quality (Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire, RCSQ)
Sleep quality will be assessed using the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ), a validated instrument that evaluates perceived sleep depth, sleep latency, number of awakenings, efficiency of returning to sleep, and overall sleep quality. The RCSQ consists of five items scored from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better sleep quality.
Time frame: Preoperative baseline; 24 hours after initiation of the intervention; 72 hours after initiation of the intervention; and on the day of hospital discharge.
Health-related quality of life (PROMIS Global Health Scale)
Health-related quality of life will be assessed using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Global Health, which evaluates participants' overall physical and mental health. Each domain (Global Physical Health and Global Mental Health) is calculated from four items, with scores ranging from 4 to 20. Higher scores indicate better health-related quality of life.
Time frame: Preoperative baseline; 24 hours after initiation of the intervention; 72 hours after initiation of the intervention; and on the day of hospital discharge.
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