Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation for the Treatment of Pain in Physiotherapy Practices in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom—A Survey of Usage and Perceived Effectiveness Compared With Other Pain Relieving Modalities

This study compared the use and perceived effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) with other electrophysical modalities for pain management by physiotherapists (PTs) in Hong Kong (HK) and the United Kingdom (UK). Two random samples (n = 600 each) of HK and UK PTs were mailed questionnaires. Four hundred and sixteen out of 1,200 respondents (34.7%) returned fully completed questionnaires (HK,34.2%; UK, 35.2%). A significant difference was found in the type of electrodes used (p < 0.001); self-adhesive electrodes were used more commonly in the UK (UK, 73.0%; HK, 18.4%), compared with carbon rubber electrodes and gel in HK (HK, 75.6%; UK, 15.7%). A significantly higher percentage of HK PTs reported receiving an undergraduate education in TENS (84.4% vs. 43.1%; p < 0.001). Acupuncture was used more in the UK (67.7%) than in HK (48.8%; p < 0.001), but it was rated equally effective, especially for chronic pain. There were significant differences in perceived effectiveness of TENS for chronic pain (p < 0.001); TENS was rated second most effective for the management of chronic pain by UK PTs and fourth by HK PTs. This survey has highlighted differences in the patterns of use and perceived effectiveness of TENS and other modalities in the UK and HK.