Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Clinical Setting to Reduce Pain in Older Workers
- Conditions
- AgingChronic Pain
- Interventions
- Device: transcranial direct current stimulation
- Registration Number
- NCT05370833
- Lead Sponsor
- Université de Sherbrooke
- Brief Summary
Chronic pain is one of the main factors influencing workers' retention at work. Considering that the prevalence of suffering from chronic pain increases with age, older workers are most likely to be absent from work because of their pain.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a treatment option to reduce chronic pain.
This study aims to document the effect of tDCS on pain and work retention in older workers and to compare the traditional tDCS protocol (5 sessions) with an enhanced protocol (11 sessions).
- Detailed Description
Chronic pain affects many spheres of the lives of affected individuals and those around them. In Canada, the prevalence of chronic pain is estimated at 15% of adults aged 18 and over. Among seniors, the prevalence of this health problem can reach up to 50% and affect one in two seniors. Chronic pain is one of the leading causes of work disability. In this context, pain reduction remains one of the most effective methods to enable the worker to stay at work. Considering the aging Quebec population, labor needs and the average retirement age which is increasingly postponed, it becomes crucial to take an interest in aging workers and their continued employment.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive neurostimulation method that has shown promise in reducing chronic pain. Recently, several research teams have shown that tDCS has beneficial effects on pain, physical function and social participation in seniors. Despite all these recent advances, very few studies have focused on optimizing tDCS treatment modalities and no studies have focused on the impact of tDCS on return to work or retention. The vast majority of studies using tDCS to reduce pain give one tDCS session per day for 5 consecutive days. This study aims to document the effect of tDCS on pain and work retention in older workers and to compare the traditional tDCS protocol (5 sessions) with an enhanced protocol (11 sessions).
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- RECRUITING
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 24
- To be more than 55 years old
- To have chronic pain
- To have employment relationship
- To have pain that interferes with work tasks
- tDCS contraindications (epilepsy, metallic implant in the head, pacemaker, cochlear implant)
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Standard protocol transcranial direct current stimulation 5 tDCS sessions in 1 week Enhanced protocol transcranial direct current stimulation 11 tDCS sessions devised in 4 weeks
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Pain intensity 4 weeks after the last tDCS session 0-10 Numerical rating scale
Disability 4 weeks after the last tDCS session Pain Disability Index
Depression 4 weeks after the last tDCS session Beck depression inventory
Impression of change 4 weeks after the last tDCS session Patient Global impression of change
Work role functioning 4 weeks after the last tDCS session Work Role Functioning Questionnaire
Physical Functioning 4 weeks after the last tDCS session Brief Pain Inventory
Anxiety 4 weeks after the last tDCS session Beck anxiety inventory
Central sensitization 4 weeks after the last tDCS session central sensitization inventory
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Recruitment through study completion, about 2 years Feasibility of the study
Security through study completion, about 2 years Feasibility of the study
Intervention through study completion, about 2 years Feasibility of the study
Trial Locations
- Locations (2)
Clinique régionale de la gestion de la douleur - CISSSAT
🇨🇦Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, Canada
Centre de Recherche sur le Vieillissement
🇨🇦Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada