Evaluation and Management of Neuropathy: A Guide for Primary Care Providers

Patients with neuropathic symptoms often seek initial evaluation in primary care. Primary care providers face challenges in evaluating and managing neuropathic symptoms; subsequently, patients with neuropathic symptoms may be underdiagnosed or undermanaged. Current existing treatment guidelines lack unanimity of both evaluation and management efforts. The purpose of the project was to enhance the evaluation and management of patients with neuropathy symptoms by strengthening primary care provider use of evidence-based treatment approaches for neuropathy through the development and subsequent implementation of a treatment algorithm. The project participants included eighteen primary care providers from local primary care clinics. Aggregate pre and post survey data were evaluated after providers used the treatment algorithm in practice for one month. Mann Whitney U results showed no difference between the pre and post survey data to support usefulness of the treatment algorithm; however, Likert scale post-survey results revealed that the majority of providers agreed that guidelines would be useful in practice. Distributing the treatment algorithm to a larger population of primary care providers in expanded organizations, over more extended time periods might capture further data to support usefulness.