Comparison of the Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and Hot Pack on Dysmenorrhea amongst Female Interns in A Tertiary Health Facility in Nigeria

Dysmenorrhea a painful menstrual cramp during menstruation is managed pharmacologically using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or hormonal contraceptives. However, concerns over side effects have led many to explore alternative therapies such as Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and thermotherapy using Hydrocollator Pack. This study compared the effectiveness of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and Hydrocollator Pack on dysmenorrhea amongst female interns in Federal Medical Center, Owo. The study recruited 30 female interns into Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (n=15) and Hydrocollator Pack (n=15) using a fish bowl sampling method. Data was collected using Numerical Pain Rating Scale an 11-point scale, from 0 to 10, (0 meaning “no pain” and 10 meaning “worst possible pain”) on 3 consecutive days of treatment for a period of 3 months. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 25 with alpha level set at 0.05. Result showed that, both interventions reduced pain, although within-group change across nine treatment days was not statistically significant for either Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation or Hydrocollator Pack (Friedman tests, p ≥.282). However, Hydrocollator Pack produced greater pain reduction than Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation at all timepoints (Holm-adjusted p ≤.05). Furthermore, comparative effect revealed that participants in Hydrocollator Pack group exhibited a significantly greater reduction in pain compared to the Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation group (p <.05). In conclusion, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and Hydrocollator Pack had a positive effect on dysmenorrhea in terms of pain reduction, however, Hydrocollator Pack demonstrated greater reduction in pain than Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation.