Patients' satisfaction with and awareness of electrical stimulation therapy

Abstract

Introduction. The study purpose was to investigate the effects of electrical stimulation therapy (EST) and to examine whether the patients' awareness of and satisfaction with EST changed with gender, education level, information on treatment, and number of sessions. Methods. The Electrotherapy Questionnaire, prepared by the researchers, consisting of 20 closed-ended questions, was applied to the participants. A total of 531 volunteers who had completed the physiotherapy program and received EST treatment were included in the study. Pearson's correlations were used to assess the associations between satisfaction and awareness and gender, education level, number of treatment sessions, and information on treatment. Results. The mean age of the patients was 45.4 ± 5.1 years. Overall, 57% of the participants stated that they did not know the purpose of EST; 77% were satisfied with EST; 47.5% maintained that the transmission gel used during EST applications had a healing effect. A significant positive correlation was found only between increasing physiotherapists' explanations and patients' satisfaction (r = 0.166, p < 0.05). Conclusions. Patients' expectation bound with the treatment and their desire to be informed were found to be high. The proportion of those who benefited from EST turned out high. It was shown that patients' awareness of EST and their perceived wellness were improved by informing the patients about the purpose of the treatment. © University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw.