(461) Wearable TENs Band for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN): a Feasibility Study

Forty to 80% of cancer patients report neuropathic symptoms 3 months after neurotoxic chemotherapy. No evidence-based non-pharmacologic treatments exist. This single-arm, feasibility study evaluated the efficacy of a TENs band. Eligible patients completed chemotherapy at least 3 months prior to enrollment and reported at least 1 of the following neuropathy symptoms as ≥4 on a 0 – 10 numeric rating scale: pain, numbness, tingling, or cramping. Participants wore a TENs band on their lower extremities for a minimum of 6 weeks and up to 6 months. They wore the band twice a day for the first 3 weeks and subsequently as frequently as they wanted, alternating on and off every hour. Participants’ attitudes toward the band and study design were assessed in a qualitative interview at 6 weeks. Eight of 15 eligible patients received the TENs band; 6 completed the initial 6-week treatment phase; 2 were lost to follow-up. Three of the participants decided to continue using the band after the 6-week phase, and 2 of those participants have completed the 6-month study period and reported that they will continue to use the band. All participants found the study length and number of visits acceptable; 4 of 6 participants preferred having a daily symptom diary over less frequent ratings. Two of 6 patients reported difficulty with the band slipping down their leg, both of whom decided not to continue after 6 weeks. Four of 6 participants reported experiencing some benefit from the band, noting improvement in tingling, pain, swelling, and/or cramping. No one reported improvements in numbness. This feasibility study indicates that (1) the majority of the participants found a 6-week study with daily symptom diaries acceptable and was able to operate the band and (2) outcome measures for a TENs band should evaluate positive neuropathy symptoms. This study was supported by Neurometrix.