[Referral of patients with polyneuropathy by the family physician: influence of type of symptoms but not of age].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the influence of the age of the patient and the nature of a polyneuropathy on the referral behaviour of general practitioners (GPs).


METHODS
Written questionnaire sent to GPs regarding paper case records of polyneuropathy.


METHODS
University Hospital Utrecht, the Netherlands.


METHODS
1590 GPs were asked about their differential diagnosis regarding a paper case record of a patient with polyneuropathy. There were six case records, differing in age (53, 64 and 73 years) and nature of the disease (sensory or sensorimotor polyneuropathy). The GPs were divided into six groups with similar demographic characteristics and type of practice. To avoid focus on polyneuropathy, all GPs also received questions about three other neurological cases (amaurosis fugax, radicular syndrome and vasovagal collapse).


RESULTS
The mean response of the questionnaire was 54% (n = 844). Most GPs diagnosed the polyneuropathy (analysis of variance; p < 0.0001). The age of the patient did not influence the diagnosis nor the referral behaviour. At least 73% of the patients with a sensory and 81% of the patients with a sensorimotor polyneuropathy were referred to neurologists for further investigations (chi(2)-test; p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
At least 73% of the GPs referred a patient with polyneuropathy to a neurologist; patients with muscle weakness were referred more often than patients with only sensory disturbances. Referral was not influenced by the age of the patient.
van Dijk
G W
GW
Afd. Neurologie: Academisch Ziekenhuis, Utrecht.
Notermans
N C
NC
van der Graaf
Y
Y
Donders
R C
RC
Hol
M
M
Wokke
J H
JH
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005194:Family Practice; D015417:Hereditary Sensory and Motor Neuropathy / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011115:Polyneuropathies / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires